FILED ON: 11/16/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2075

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

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An Act improving water safety for children in the Commonwealth.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.  Section 1 of chapter 90B of the of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “meaning.”, in line 2, the following definition:-

"Amphibious landing vehicle”, a motor vehicle that can travel on land and water.

SECTION 2. Section 5A of said chapter 90B, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the first sentence the following sentence:- Each amphibious landing vehicle shall have 1 Coast Guard approved personal flotation device of Type I, II or III that shall be in a readily accessible location for each passenger under 10 years of age.

SECTION 3.  Section 127A of chapter 111 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “jurisdiction”, in line 27, the following words:-  ; including a requirement that recreational camps for children shall have 1 Coast Guard approved personal flotation device of Type I, II or III for each minor who will be present in a swimming or diving area, excluding swimming pools, wading pools and other artificial bodies of water.

SECTION 4.  Said chapter 111 is hereby further amended by inserting, after section 127A, the following section:-

Section 127A½. No recreational camp for children shall refuse, decline or otherwise prohibit a parent, guardian or person with custody of a minor from providing a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device of Type I, II or III to such recreational camp to be used by the minor for the duration of the minor’s attendance at such camp.