Requires all vessels operating in and beyond state waters to have on board a properly functioning Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon ("EPIRB").

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that many small boat operators are putting themselves at risk by not carrying an emergency position indicating radio beacon to indicate their position to rescuers in the event they become lost at sea. The legislature further finds that the emergency position indicating radio beacon will significantly reduce that time and effort required to execute a search and rescue mission, and thereby increase the probability of success of the rescue, while reducing the substantial cost of such efforts to both the state and federal government.

The purpose of this Act is to require that all small watercraft operating in and beyond the waters of the State carry on board a properly functioning emergency position indicating radio beacon.

SECTION 2. Chapter 200, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§200-   Use of emergency position indicating radio beacon. (a) It shall be unlawful to operate any vessel in the waters of the State, other than a canoe, surfboard, or paddleboard, unless the vessel is equipped with a properly functioning emergency position indicating radio beacon.

(b) Any person who violates this section shall be fined not more than $100 for each separate day of offense. Any action taken to impose or collect the fine provided by this section shall be considered a civil action.

(c) As used in this section, an "emergency position indicating radio beacon" is a device that, when activated, transmits a distress call which is picked up by satellites and the data is relayed back to earth stations and forwarded to the appropriate rescue bases."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.