Public Act 178 of 2008

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• Introduced by Rep. Ted Hammon (D) on April 24, 2008, to prohibit anyone under age 16 from operating a personal watercraft. Also, to prohibit operating a personal watercraft between sunset and 8:00 a.m. Under current law this prohibition begins one hour before sunset.
  • Referred to the House Natural Resources, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Committee on April 24, 2008.
    • Reported in the House on May 13, 2008, with the recommendation that the substitute (H-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
  • Substitute offered in the House on May 14, 2008.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. David Agema (R) on May 14, 2008, to also allow 14 and 15-year-olds to operate personal watercraft if accompanied by an adult age 21 or older designated by the parent or guardian. The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on May 14, 2008.
• Passed 83 to 24 in the House on May 14, 2008, to prohibit anyone under age of 14 from operating a personal watercraft, and prohibit it for those age 14 or 15 unless accompanied by a parent, guardian or or an adult designated by the parent or guardian.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the Senate on May 15, 2008.
  • Referred to the Senate Natural Resources & Environmental Affairs Committee on May 15, 2008.
    • Reported in the Senate on June 17, 2008, with the recommendation that the substitute (S-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
  • Substitute offered in the Senate on June 19, 2008, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that also changes the hours during which operation of a personal watercraft is prohibited to sunset until 8:00 a.m., rather than one hour before sunset until 8:00 a.m. under current law. The substitute passed by voice vote in the Senate on June 19, 2008.
• Passed 23 to 14 in the Senate on June 24, 2008, to prohibit anyone under age of 14 from operating a personal watercraft, and prohibit it for those age 14 or 15 unless accompanied by a parent, guardian or or an adult designated by the parent or guardian. The bill also changes the hours during which operation of a personal watercraft is prohibited to sunset until 8:00 a.m., rather than one hour before sunset until 8:00 a.m. under current law.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the House on June 24, 2008.
• Passed 83 to 24 in the House on June 26, 2008, to concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill, which also changes the hours during which operation of a personal watercraft is prohibited to sunset until 8:00 a.m.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on July 9, 2008.