HB 245 - Commercial Parasailing (White-Miskell Act)

• Requires vessel owners conducting commercial parasailing to obtain insurance coverage of at least $1 million per person and $2 million per event from a state-licensed insurer.

• Prohibits commercial parasailing unless the vessel operator holds a current U.S. Coast Guard license for carrying passengers, an observer age 18+ is present to monitor riders, and the passenger support system passes division inspection.

• Restricts commercial parasailing to occur at least 1,800 feet from shore, outside 100 feet of marked Florida Intracoastal Waterway channels, and only between one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

• Prohibits parasailing operations when sustained wind speeds exceed 20 mph, visibility is less than 0.5 miles due to rain or fog, or when lightning storms are within 7 miles of the operating area; requires weather logs be maintained and available for inspection.

• Limits parasailing to a maximum of three persons tethered to the vessel at one time, requires all riders wear non-inflatable U.S. Coast Guard-approved flotation devices, and mandates safety briefings for all passengers and riders; violations are second-degree misdemeanors.