BOATS Act

To require all recreational vessels to have and post passenger capacity limits, to amend title 46, United States Code, to authorize States to enter into contracts for the provision of boating safety education services under State recreational boating safety programs, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Boating Occupancy and Teaching Safety Act BOATS Act 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Flying bridge The term flying bridge (2) Passenger The term passenger (3) Recreational vessel (A) In general The term recreational vessel (i) manufactured or used primarily for pleasure; or (ii) leased, rented, or chartered to a person for the pleasure of that person. (B) Exclusion The term recreational vessel (i) is subject to Coast Guard inspection; (ii) is constructed before January 1, 2018; and (iii) (I) is engaged in commercial use; or (II) carries paying passengers. 3. Capacity limits for recreational vessels (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall— (1) establish standards for determining the maximum passenger capacity in whole number of passengers and in pounds for recreational vessels; (2) require each manufacturer of a passenger vessel to post such maximum passenger capacity on the passenger vessel as described in subsection (b); and (3) require each operator of a passenger vessel to ensure that— (A) such maximum passenger capacity is posted as described in subsection (b) and legible to passengers; and (B) notice of the need to balance the weight carried by the vessel to avoid capsizing is posted as described in subsection (b) and legible to passengers. (b) Elements and locations of displays The maximum passenger capacity, maximum carrying capacity in pounds, and notice of the need to balance the carried weight for a passenger vessel shall each be permanently displayed in a legible matter— (1) in a location that is clearly visible to a passenger boarding the passenger vessel; and (2) on each flying bridge of the vessel, in a location that is clearly visible to a passenger on the flying bridge. (c) Penalties Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall publish regulations that establish appropriate penalties for a manufacturer of a recreational vessel that does not comply with the requirements of this section. (d) Application The requirements of this section shall apply to any recreational vessel manufactured after the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 4. State recreational boating safety programs (a) Program acceptance Section 13103 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (4) by striking and (B) in paragraph (5) by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (6) contracting practices in accordance with subsection (e). ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (e) Contracting (1) In general A State carrying out a State recreational boating safety program may enter into a contract with a local government or private entity to have the government or entity provide boating safety education services under the program. (2) Expenditure requirement Each fiscal year, a State carrying out a State recreational boating safety program shall expend on contracts described in paragraph (1) not less than 5 percent of the Federal amounts received by that State in that fiscal year under this chapter. (3) Considerations In entering into contracts under paragraph (1), a State shall consider— (A) the need for geographic diversity among the local governments and private entities providing education services under the contracts; (B) the need to have education services that address the various vessels utilized in the State; (C) the need to have education services that address the various waterways in the State; and (D) all the costs related to providing education services under the contracts that may affect the local governments and private entities providing the services. (4) Eligibility (A) In general To be eligible to enter into a contract under paragraph (1), a local government or private entity shall— (i) submit to the appropriate State lead authority or agency designated under subsection (a)(4) a detailed proposal for the provision of boating safety education services; and (ii) certify that the government or entity will not profit financially from providing the services. (B) Exceptions (i) Existing providers Subparagraph (A)(i) does not apply to a local government or private entity that provided boating safety education services before the date of enactment of this subsection under standards established by the relevant State. (ii) 501(c)(3) Subparagraph (A)(ii) does not apply to an organization described in section 501(c)(3) (5) Education services criteria The Secretary, in consultation with States and relevant stakeholders, shall establish criteria for the boating safety education services provided by local governments and private entities under this subsection. Using the criteria, a State shall establish outlines specifying the requirements for education services in that State and education services in that State shall be provided in accordance with the outlines. (6) Additional contracting A local government that enters into a contract under paragraph (1) to provide boating safety education services may contract with a private entity to receive assistance with the provision of those services. (7) Advertising A local government or private entity that enters into a contract under paragraph (1) to provide boating safety education services may utilize funds provided under that contract to advertise such services. (8) Report Each fiscal year, a State that entered into contracts under this subsection shall submit to the Secretary a report specifying the governments and entities contracted with in that fiscal year. . (b) Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund Section 9504(b)(2)(A) Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015 Boating Occupancy and Teaching Safety Act

Summary: Boating Occupancy and Teaching Safety Act or the BOATS Act Directs the Commandant of the Coast Guard to: establish maximum passenger capacity and maximum weight capacity standards for recreational vessels; and require manufacturers and operators of passenger vessels to permanently display in a legible manner that is clearly visible, including on each flying bridge of the vessel, to vessel passengers such maximum capacity requirements and a notice of the need to balance vessel weight to avoid capsizing. Defines "flying bridge" to mean an open deck above the main navigating bridge of a recreational vessel. Amends federal shipping law to revise state recreational boating safety program requirements. Allows a state to contract with a local government or private entity to provide boating safety education services under a state recreational boating safety program. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make amounts in the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund available for expenditures to carry out the purposes of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (as in effect upon enactment of this Act).