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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, According to the Illinois Department of Natural
3Resources 2012 Recreational Boating Report, there were 101
4United States Coast Guard (USCG) reportable watercraft
5accidents during federal fiscal year 2012 in Illinois,
6resulting in 69 injuries and 19 fatalities; and
 
7    WHEREAS, In federal fiscal year 2012, Conservation Police
8Officers inspected 20,015 vessels, and provided assistance to a
9combination of 2,231 persons and vessels; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Boating accident reports indicate the majority of
11accidents occur between June and July, on Saturday or Sunday,
12between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m.; conditions are usually clear with
13good visibility, light winds, and calm water; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Most accidents involve operators between the ages
15of 20 and 40 with over 100 hours of boating experience but have
16little or no classroom boating safety instruction; and
 
17    WHEREAS, In the majority of the 19 fatal accidents in
18federal fiscal year 2012, the operators had no formal boat
19safety education; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Ten of the 19 fatalities involved drug or alcohol

 

 

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1impairment; with the leading type of fatal accidents involving
2falls overboard; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Current Illinois law provides that persons at
4least 12 years of age but less than 18 years of age may only
5operate a motorboat if they have in their possession a valid
6Boating Education Certificate of Competency issued by the
7Illinois Department of Natural Resources Safety Education
8Division or they are accompanied on the motorboat and under
9direct control of a parent or guardian, or a person at least 18
10years of age designated by a parent or guardian; and
 
11    WHEREAS, There is no requirement in Illinois for anyone
12over the age of 18 to complete a Boating Education Course
13before operating a motorboat; and
 
14    WHEREAS, The Illinois Boat Registration and Safety Act
15states that the Department of Natural Resources may cooperate
16with schools, private clubs, and other organizations in
17offering boating safety courses throughout the State of
18Illinois; and
 
19    WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Natural Resources
20should increase efforts to have more boaters voluntarily
21participate in boating safety courses; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
2NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
3we urge the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to work
4with boat rental businesses, boating clubs, and other
5organizations to encourage Illinois boaters to participate in
6boating safety courses; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8delivered to the Director of Natural Resources, for the
9Illinois Department of Natural Resources.