Relating to the registration requirements for certain vessels, requiring water use permits, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions

This bill relates to registration requirements for certain vessels. Under current law, vessels of any length without a motor shall pay to a county recorder a registration fee of $12 in order for the vessel to be issued an identification number. A vessel may not be used on the waters of this state that are under the jurisdiction of the natural resource commission (NRC) without an identification number. Current law exempts conventional design canoes and kayak type vessels that are feet or less in length from the numbering and registration requirements. The bill increases the registration fee for vessels of any length without a motor to $20. However, the bill exempts a canoe or kayak type vessel of any length from registration requirements. Instead, an owner of a conventional design canoe or kayak type vessel using the vessel on waters of this state under NRC jurisdiction shall purchase and display on the vessel a water use permit decal. The department of natural resources (DNR) shall make the water use permit decal available to purchase for $20 at water recreation facilities operated by DNR and at retail locations. The water use permit decal shall be valid for three years from the date of purchase. Moneys from the purchase of water use permit decals shall be deposited in the water trail development fund established in the bill. Moneys in the fund are appropriated to DNR for purposes of developing and maintaining water trails in this state, administering and enforcing navigation laws, and promoting water safety. The provisions of the bill relating to water use permit decals and the water trail development fund take effect July 1, 2023.