Lucy's Law — Boating Safety (FL SB 628)

• Officially cited as "Lucy's Law," the bill establishes a tiered penalty structure for leaving the scene of a boating accident: first-degree misdemeanor for property damage only, third-degree felony for non-serious injury, second-degree felony for serious bodily injury, and first-degree felony for death of a person or unborn child

• Creates tiered penalties for reckless vessel operation based on outcome severity, ranging from a first-degree misdemeanor (no accident) up to a first-degree felony if the reckless operation causes the death of another person or unborn child

• Requires suspension of a person's driver license upon conviction of boating under the influence (s. 327.35) or reckless/careless vessel operation (s. 327.33) until all court orders are satisfied

• Expands the definition of "vessel homicide" to include the death of an unborn child caused by injury to the mother, and makes providing a false statement to law enforcement investigating a fatal boating accident a third-degree felony

• Lowers the threshold for mandatory boater safety education, requiring course completion after a single noncriminal infraction conviction (previously two infractions within 12 months), and revises the "livery" definition to exclude vessels operated or managed by a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed master