HB1447 Summary

• Clarifies that vessels must carry one U.S. Coast Guard-approved wearable personal flotation device (Type I, II, III, or V) in good condition and proper size for each person aboard, and requires vessels 16 feet or longer to carry one Type IV throwable device.

• Requires vessels 26 feet or longer to have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved and charged fire extinguisher aboard; motorboats under 26 feet must have one if equipped with permanently installed fuel tanks, closed compartments, enclosed living spaces, or closed stowage for combustible materials.

• Increases the property damage threshold for mandatory accident reporting from $500 to $2,000 and requires operators to submit a Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard Form CG-3865 to the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission within 10 working days.

• Requires motorboats imported or manufactured after November 1, 1972 to have a primary hull identification number meeting federal standards (33 C.F.R. Part 181, Subpart C) as of January 1, 2017; verification may include photographs or pencil rubbings of the hull identification number.

• Prohibits persons operating personal watercraft from using inflatable personal flotation devices; operators and all passengers must wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices according to label instructions.