,i #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dfdb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #i1 #bjad ,mr4 ,israel introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure1 and in addition to the ,committees on ,ways and ,means and ,natural ,resources1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to require all recreational vessels to have and post passenger capacity limits1 to amend title #df1 ,united ,states ,code1 to authorize ,states to enter into contracts for the provision of boating safety education services under ,state recreational boating safety programs1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,boating ,occupancy and ,teaching ,safety ,act or the ,,boats ,act 4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,flying bridge ,the term flying bridge means an open deck above the main navigating bridge of a recreational vessel4 7#b7 ,passenger ,the term passenger includes any individual aboard a vessel4 7#c7 ,recreational vessel 7,a7 ,in general ,the term recreational vessel means any vessel of greater than #bj feet and less than #de feet overall in length1 that is-- 7i7 manufactured or used primarily for pleasure2 or 7ii7 leased1 rented1 or chartered to a person for the pleasure of that person4 7,b7 ,exclusion ,the term recreational vessel does not include a vessel that-- 7i7 is subject to ,coast ,guard inspection2 7ii7 is constructed before ,january #a1 #bjaf2 and 7iii7 7,i7 is engaged in commercial use2 or 7,,ii7 carries paying passengers4 #c4 ,capacity limits for recreational vessels 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,commandant of the ,coast ,guard shall-- 7#a7 establish standards for determining the maximum passenger capacity in whole number of passengers and in pounds for recreational vessels2 7#b7 require each manufacturer of a passenger vessel to post such maximum passenger capacity on the passenger vessel as described in subsection 7b72 and 7#c7 require each operator of a passenger vessel to ensure that-- 7,a7 such maximum passenger capacity is posted as described in subsection 7b7 and legible to passengers2 and 7,b7 notice of the need to balance the weight carried by the vessel to avoid capsizing is posted as described in subsection 7b7 and legible to passengers4 7b7 ,elements and locations of displays ,the maximum passenger capacity1 maximum carrying capacity in pounds1 and notice of the need to balance the carried weight for a passenger vessel shall each be permanently displayed in a legible matter-- 7#a7 in a location that is clearly visible to a passenger boarding the passenger vessel2 and 7#b7 on each flying bridge of the vessel1 in a location that is clearly visible to a passenger on the flying bridge4 7c7 ,penalties ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,commandant of the ,coast ,guard shall publish regulations that establish appropriate penalties for a manufacturer of a recreational vessel that does not comply with the requirements of this section4 7d7 ,application ,the requirements of this section shall apply to any recreational vessel manufactured after the date that is #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 #d4 ,state recreational boating safety programs 7a7 ,program acceptance ,section #acajc of title #df1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7c7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#d7 by striking and at the end2 7,b7 in paragraph 7#e7 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#f7 contracting practices in accordance with subsection 7e74 2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7e7 ,contracting 7#a7 ,in general ,a ,state carrying out a ,state recreational boating safety program may enter into a contract with a local government or private entity to have the government or entity provide boating safety education services under the program4 7#b7 ,expenditure requirement ,each fiscal year1 a ,state carrying out a ,state recreational boating safety program shall expend on contracts described in paragraph 7#a7 not less than #e percent of the ,federal amounts received by that ,state in that fiscal year under this chapter4 7#c7 ,considerations ,in entering into contracts under paragraph 7#a71 a ,state shall consider-- 7,a7 the need for geographic diversity among the local governments and private entities providing education services under the contracts2 7,b7 the need to have education services that address the various vessels utilized in the ,state2 7,c7 the need to have education services that address the various waterways in the ,state2 and 7,d7 all the costs related to providing education services under the contracts that may affect the local governments and private entities providing the services4 7#d7 ,eligibility 7,a7 ,in general ,to be eligible to enter into a contract under paragraph 7#a71 a local government or private entity shall-- 7i7 submit to the appropriate ,state lead authority or agency designated under subsection 7a77#d7 a detailed proposal for the provision of boating safety education services2 and 7ii7 certify that the government or entity will not profit financially from providing the services4 7,b7 ,exceptions 7i7 ,existing providers ,subparagraph 7,a77i7 does not apply to a local government or private entity that provided boating safety education services before the date of enactment of this subsection under standards established by the relevant ,state4 7ii7 #eja7;c77#c7 organizations ,subparagraph 7,a77ii7 does not apply to an organization described in section #eja7;c77#c7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf and exempt from taxation under section #eja7;a7 of such ,code if the organization certifies to the relevant ,state that all relevant profits will be used to advance boating safety4 7#e7 ,education services criteria ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with ,states and relevant stakeholders1 shall establish criteria for the boating safety education services provided by local governments and private entities under this subsection4 ,using the criteria1 a ,state shall establish outlines specifying the requirements for education services in that ,state and education services in that ,state shall be provided in accordance with the outlines4 7#f7 ,additional contracting ,a local government that enters into a contract under paragraph 7#a7 to provide boating safety education services may contract with a private entity to receive assistance with the provision of those services4 7#g7 ,advertising ,a local government or private entity that enters into a contract under paragraph 7#a7 to provide boating safety education services may utilize funds provided under that contract to advertise such services4 7#h7 ,report ,each fiscal year1 a ,state that entered into contracts under this subsection shall submit to the ,secretary a report specifying the governments and entities contracted with in that fiscal year4 4 7b7 ,sport ,fish ,restoration and ,boating ,trust ,fund ,section #iejd7;b77#b77;,a7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf is amended by striking the ,,map-#ba and inserting ,boating ,occupancy and ,teaching ,safety ,act 4