An Act to .Require a
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1042
Committee Amendment CA_A_H233 (House)
Amends: 12 MRSA §13068-A

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" .to H.P. 671, L.D. 1042, "An Act to .Require a 
l O 
Person Operating a Watercraft for Recreational Purposes to Ensure All Passengers Under 
Years of Age Wear Coast Guard Approved Personal Flotation Devices" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act to Require a Person Operating a Watercraft for Recreational Purposes to 
Ensure All Children Under 13 Years of Age Wear United States Coast Guard 
Approved Personal Flotation Devices' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and insetting the 
following: 
'Sec.), 12 MRSA §13068-A, sub-§4, 1A, as amended by PL 2023, c. 228, §§ 13 
and 14, is fmther amended by enacting a new subparagraph (2-A) to read: 
(2-A) Fails to ensure that a child who has not attained ·13 years of age, including 
the operator, is wearing an appropriate United States Coast Guard approved 
personal flotation device while the watercraft is underway and used for recreational 
purposes unless the child who has not attained 13 years of age is below decks or in 
an enclosed cabin. This subparagraph does not apply to a watercraft with a United 
States Coast Guard certificate of inspection. 
Sec, 2. Effective date. This Act takes effect January I, 2026.' 
• 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill and adds an effective date of January 1, 2026. The 
amendment modifies the provision of law governing operation of a watercraft to prohibit a 
2 
person from operating a watercraft unless all passenger children who are under 13 years of 
age and the boat operator, if also under 13 years of age, are wearing an appropriate United 
States Coast Guard approved personal flotation device while the watercraft is underway 
Page I - 132LR0918(02) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
ROS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT •A" to H.P. 671, L.D. l 042 
and being used for recreational purposes unless they are below decks or in an enclosed 
cabin. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/02/25 LRL 
LD 1042 
LR 918(02) 
An Act to Require a Person Operating a Watercraft for Recreational Purposes to Ensure AH 
Passengers Under 13 Years of Age Wear Coast Guard Approved Personal Flotation Devices 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'ff { f1-L 5 ~) 
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor revenue increase - General Fund 
Minor revenue increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
~orrectional and Judicial Impact Statements 
The additional workload associated with the minimal number of new cases filed in the court system does not require 
additional funding at this time, The collection of additional fines will increase General Fund or other dedicated 
revenue by minor amounts, 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Any additional costs to the Department oflnland Fisheries and Wildlife to implement the provisions of this bill are 
expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources, 
LR0918(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1