Boater Education and Child Life Jacket Use

Here's the current status (as of February 2010) of state laws on two issues -- (1) mandatory boater education for all operators and (2) life jacket use for children 12 and under. PLUS (+) indicates that the current law meets recommended standards while MINUS (-) indicates either no requirement or room for improvement.

Alabama (convened January 12 and adjourns April 22)
+ Requires boater education for all operators born after 4/28/1954.
- Under 8 for child life jacket use.
Contact: Capt. B. R. Huffaker (BLA), 334-353-2628, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Alaska (convened January 19 and adjourns April 18)
- No boater education requirements.
+ Under 13 for child life jacket use.
Contact: Jeffrey S. Johnson (BLA), 907-269-8705, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Arizona (convened January 11 and adjourns May 26)
- No boater education requirements.
+ 12 and Under for child life jacket use.
Contact: Kevin Bergerson (BLA), 623-236-7383, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Arkansas (convened February 8 and adjourns March 9)
+ Requires boater education for all operators born after 1/1/1986.
+ 12 and Under for child life jacket use.
Contact: Chris Neal, PWIA, 202-737-9773, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

California (convened January 4 and adjourns August 31)
- No boater education requirements.
- 11 and Under for child life jacket use.
Contact: Ray Tsuneyoshi (BLA), 916-263-4326; This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , Jerry Desmond, Jr., Director of Government Affairs, RBOC, 916-441-4166,

Colorado (convened January 6 and adjourns May 11
- Boater education requirement applies only ages 15 and under.
+ Under 13 for child life jacket use.
Contact: Colorado: Brian Sandy (BLA), 303.791.1954, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Connecticut (convened February 3 and adjourns May 5)
+ Requires boater education for all ages.
+ 12 and Under for child life jacket use.

Delaware (convened January 12 and adjourns June 30)
+ Requires boater education for all operators born after 1/1/1978.
+ 12 and Under for child life jacket use.

Florida (convened March 2 and adjourns May 1)
+ Requires boater education for all operators born after 1/1/1988.
- Under 6 for child life jacket use.
Contact: Richard Moore (BLA), 850-488-5600, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Chris Neal, PWIA, 202-737-9773, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Georgia (convened January 12 and adjourns April 2)
- Boater education requirements applies only to operators under age 15.
- Under 10 for child life jacket use.
Contact: Ed McGill, Coast Guard Auxiliary, 678-701-0234;
Chris Neal, PWIA, 202-737-9773, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Hawaii (convened January 20 and adjourns May 7)
- No boater education requirements except for personal watercraft/thrill craft.
+ Under 13 for child life jacket use.
Contact: Ed Underwood (BLA), 808-587-1966, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Idaho (convened January 11 and adjourns April 7)
- No boater education requirements except for rentals of personal watercraft; boaters convicted of operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and boaters who are repeat offenders of boating law or rule.
+ 14 and Under for child life jacket use.
Contact: Dave Dahms (BLA), 208-514-2412, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Illinois (convened January 13 and adjourns January 11, 2011)
- Boater education requirement applies only to age 17 and under.
+ 12 and Under for child life jacket use.
Contact: Joe Morelock (BLA), 217-782-5828, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Indiana (convened November 17, 2009 and adjourns March 14)
- Boater education requirement applies only to age 15 and under.
+ 12 and Under for child life jacket use.
Contact: Maj. Felix Hensley (BLA), 317-233-3847, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Iowa (convened January 11 and adjourns April 20)
- Boater education requirement applies only to age 17 and under.
+ 12 and Under for child life jacket use.
Contact: Diane Ford-Shivvers, DNR Legislative Liaison, 515-281-6341;
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Kansas (convened January 11 and adjourns April 10)
+ Requires boater education to all operators those born after 1/1/1989 and under age 21.
+ 12 and Under for child life jacket use.

Kentucky (convened January 5 and adjourns April 1)
- Boater education requirement applies only to operators age 17 and under.
+ Under 12 for child life jacket use.
Contact: Lt. Mike Fields (BLA), 502-564-3176, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Louisiana (convenes March 29 and adjourns June 21)
+ Requires boater education for operators born after 1/1/1984.
+ 16 and Under for child life jacket use.

Maine (convened January 6 and adjourns April 21)
- No boater education requirements except for personal watercraft.
- 10 and Under for child life jacket use.
Contacts: Col Joseph Fessenden (BLA), 207.624.6580, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and Ralph Pears, 207-468-1165; This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Maryland (convened January 13 and adjourns April 13)
+ Requires boater education for all operators born after 7/1/1972.
- Under 13 for child life jacket use.
Contact: Col. George Johnson (BLA), 410-260-8881, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Massachusetts (convened January 6 and adjourns January 4, 2011)
- Boater education requirement applies to operators age 15 and younger.
+ Under 12 for child life jacket use.
Contact: Chris Neal, PWIA, 202-737-9773, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Michigan (convened January 13 and adjourns December 31)
- Boater education requirement applies only to operators 15 and younger.
- Under 6 for child life jacket use.
Contact: Chris Neal (PWIA) 202-737-9773; This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Minnesota (convened February 4 and adjourns May 17)
- Boater education requirement applies only to operators age 17 and younger.
- Under 10 for child life jacket use.
Contact: Kim Elverum (BLA), 651-259-5343, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and Bill Gossard (NTSB), 202- 314-6182, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Mississippi (convened January 5 and adjourns April 4)
+ Requires boater education for all operators born after 6/30/1980.
+ 12 and Under for child life jacket use.

Missouri (convened January 6 and adjourns May 10)
+ Requires boater education for all operators born after 1/01/1984.
- Under 7 for child life jacket use.
Contact: Lt Col Mike Smith (BLA), 573.751.3333, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Montana (no regular 2010 session)
- Boater education requirement applies only to operators age 14 and younger.
+ Under 12 for child life jacket use.
Contact: Ron Jendro (BLA), 406-444-0136; This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Nebraska (convened January 6 and adjourns April 16)
- Boater education requirement applies only to operators 17 and younger.
+ Under 13 for child life jacket use.
Contact: Herb Angell (BLA), 402-471-5579, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Nevada (no regular 2010 session)
+ Requires boater education for all operators born after 1/1/1983.
+ Under 13 for child life jacket use.

New Hampshire (convened January 6 and adjourns June 30)
+ Requires boater education for all ages.
+ 12 and Under for child life jacket use.

New Jersey (convened January 12 and adjourns January 10, 2011)
+ Requires boater education for all operators.
+ 12 and Under for child life jacket use.

New Mexico (convened January 19 and adjourns February 18)
+ Requires boater education for all operators born after 1/1/1989.
+ 12 and Under for child life jacket use.

New York (convened January 6 and adjourns January 5, 2011)
- Boater education requirement applies only ages 17 and under.
+ Under 12 for child life jacket use.
The "Life Jacket Wear" bills (A6784 and S3024) of 2009 which require the wearing of life jackets on all vessels under 21 feet from November 1 to May 1 are now the law in New York. It is the first of its kind in the nation. This was a New York Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation bill.
Contact: Brian Kempf (BLA), 518-474-0445; This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

North Carolina (convenes May 10 and adjourns July 26)
- Boater education requirement applies only to operators age 26 and younger.
+ Under 13 for child life jacket use.
Contact: Pete Deschenes, Chair, N. C. Coalition, 252- 586-3144; This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

North Dakota (no regular 2010 session)
- Boater education requirement applies only to operators age 15 and younger.
- 10 and Under for child life jacket use.
Contact: Nancy Boldt (BLA), 701-328-6312, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Ohio (convened January 5 and adjourns December 31)
+ Requires boater education for all operators born after 1/1/1982.
- Under 10 for child life jacket use.
Contact: Pamela S. Dillon (BLA), 614-265-6475, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Oklahoma (convened February 1 and adjourns May 28)
- Boater education requirement applies only to operators age 15 and younger.
+ 12 and Under for child life jacket use.
Contact: Capt Mike Mize (BLA), 918.247.2001, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Oregon (no regular 2010 session)
+ Requires boater education for all ages
+ 12 and Under for child life jacket use.

Pennsylvania (convened January 5 and adjourns November 30)
+ Requires boater education for all operators born after 1/1/1982.
+ 12 and Under for child life jacket use.

Rhode Island (convened January 5 and adjourns June 25)
+ Requires boater education for all operators born after 1/1/1986.
+ Under 13 for child life jacket use.

South Carolina (convened January 12 and adjourns June 3)
- Boater education requirement applies only to operators age 16 and younger.
+ Under 12 for child life jacket use.
Contact: Col. Alvin Taylor, DNR, 803-734-3995, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

South Dakota (convened January 12 and adjourns March 29)
- No boater education requirements.
- Under 7 for child life jacket use.
Contact: Bob Brown (BLA), 605-734-4530, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tennessee (convened January 12 and adjourns May 25)
+ Requires boater education for operators born after 1/1/1989.
+ 12 and Under for child life jacket use.

Texas (no regular 2010 session)
+ Requires boater education for operators born after 9/1/1984.
+ Under 13 for child life jacket use.

Utah (convened January 18 and adjourns March 19)
- No boater education requirements except for personal watercraft.
+ 12 and Under for child life jacket use.
Contact: Rolayne Fairclough, AAA UTAH, 801-238-1265; This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Vermont (convened January 5 and adjourns May 30)
+ Requires boater education for all operators born after 1/1/1974.
+ Under 12 for child life jacket use.

Virginia (convened January 13 and adjourns March 13)
+ Requires boater education for all ages by 7/1/2016
- No requirement for child life jacket use.
Contact: Bruce Dungan; This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Washington (convened January 11 and adjourns March 15)
+ Requires boater education for all ages by 2014.
+ 12 and Under for child life jacket use.

West Virginia (convened January 13 and adjourns March 14)
+ Requires boater education for all operators born after 12/31/1986.
+ 12 and Under for child life jacket use.

Wisconsin (convened January 19 and adjourns May 26)
+ Requires boater education for all operators born after 1/1/1989
- No requirement for child life jacket use.
Contact: Bill Engfer, DNR, 608-266-0859; This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Wyoming (convened February 8 and adjourns March 5)
- No boater education requirements.
+ 12 and Under for child life jacket use.
Contact: Carol Havlik (BLA), 307-777-4686; This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Timely updates on state legislation are available on USCG Auxiliary's website at www.legislative.auxnaco.org