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Rep. Alan Austerman


The 27th Alaska State Legislature, 2011 - 2012  Share This Page on Facebook Email This Sponsor Statement Print Friendly Version  Majority RSS Feeds
Sponsor Statement: House Bill 301

Boating Regulation: Sunset/Enforcement

Ak Legislative MajorityAk Legislative Majority
Rep. Alan Austerman R-35
Ak Legislative Majority

Rep. Alan Austerman
(R-35)
Co-Chair, (H) FIN Com.
Ak Majority Organization

Ak Majority Organization

“An Act relating to enforcement of boating safety statutes; amending the termination date of certain statutes relating to the use, operation, and regulation of boats, a uniform state waterway marking system, and civil liability for boat owners; providing for an effective date by amending the effective date of secs. 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 20, 23, 26, and 27, ch. 28, SLA 2000, as amended; and providing for an effective date.”


Posted: January 31, 2012 : v27-LS1152-A
Bill Version: SCS CSHB 301(L&C)
Status: Chapter 31 SLA 12 : 2012-05-22


House Bill 301 repeals the sunset dates of the Statewide Boating Safety and Education Program. Through this program the State of Alaska works in close cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, and other partners to provide national award winning programs such as the popular Kids Don't Float life jacket loaner program, nationally approved boating courses, instructor training, video production, and numerous publications and instructor tools. Alaska's non-commercial boating fatalities have dropped more than 20% since state efforts began, and at least 19 Alaskan children are alive today thanks to a Kids Don't Float life jacket. The program has been repeatedly recognized for excellence, including the U.S. Coast Guard's Meritorious Public Service Award.

Between 1987 and 2000 Alaska was the only state without a comprehensive recreational boating safety program, even though Alaska had one of the highest fatality rates in the nation. During the same time, Alaska's share of the federal funding available to the states for boating safety programs was being distributed to the others states. Following 11 attempts at passage, in May of 2000, HB 108, the Alaska Boating Safety Act (AS 05.25) was signed into law.

The Act did four things:

  1. It brought Alaska's state boating laws into uniformity with federal laws.
  2. It assigned the state's boating regulatory functions to appropriate state agencies (DNR as the lead agency, DPS for law enforcement and DMV for boat registration).
  3. It qualified Alaska to receive the state's share of federal grant funds.
  4. It established Alaska's boating education program.

The 21st Legislature originally added two 'sunset' provisions to repeal the Alaska Boating Safety Act in the event the state did not receive the anticipated federal funds. The first sunset would take effect and the Boating Safety program would terminate if federal funds were not appropriated. The second sunset terminated the program by date, currently July 1, 2013.

The program's efforts have proved to significantly reduce Alaska's boating fatality rate and the sunset provisions of the Alaska Boating Safety Act should be repealed on the merit of its success.




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