Revised Boat Safety Bill Is Approved

A bill that originally would have exempt people 45 years of age and older from having to take a boating-safety class was amended and approved Wednesday in a House of Delegates committee. The News & Advance reports, the amended bill means state law will continue to require people of certain ages who operate motorboats to pass a test on boating safety. According to the article, the Bill was reworked extensively; the revised version will exempt people who are licensed to catch seafood for a living from having to pass the safety test. As of July 1, every boat operator age 45 and younger will need to meet the education requirement. By 2016, the education standard will cover operators of all ages.