A bill aimed at improving safety on California waterways passed the state Senate Thursday and is headed to the Governor’s desk.
If signed, SB 941 will require all first time boaters to pass a boating education course before taking to the waterways.
The bill comes After an NBC Bay Area investigation uncovered that boaters who are distracted or inexperienced cause the majority of accidents in California.
Right now, California is one of only 5 states(Alaska, Arizona, South Dakota, and Wyoming) that doesn’t require boaters to take a safety course.
The bill was co-authored by Senators Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel) and Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord). If enacted, the law will have a staggered implementation starting in 2018, and apply to operators under the age of 21. The law will apply to all boaters by 2025.
