MI HB5836

Boat liveries prohibited from renting personal watercraft to persons under 14 years of age or to individuals without a boating safety certificate unless they receive in-person training from the livery.

Rental agreement provided by boat liveries serves as a valid boating safety certificate only for the named renter on the specified rental dates.

Persons born on or after July 1, 1996 must obtain a boating safety certificate to operate motorboats with more than 6 horsepower; those under 12 may operate such motorboats only under direct supervision of a 16+ year-old certificate holder with a maximum 35 horsepower motor.

Electronic copies of boating safety certificates in department-approved formats may be displayed to law enforcement upon demand; displaying electronic copies does not constitute consent to search the device.

Boating safety certificates are valid for the lifetime of the certificate holder unless revoked; department must implement a verification system through law enforcement networks to confirm certificate status.