House passes boat inspection bill

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — With the summer months approaching, the Connecticut House of Representatives has passed a bill expanding boaters' responsibility to check their vessels and trailers for invasive species and vegetation before transporting them in the state.

State representatives voted 139-to-0 in favor of the bill Friday afternoon. It now awaits action in the state Senate.

Under current law, individuals are required to check their boats for and remove vegetation and invasive aquatic species, as determined by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner.

The bill would expand this requirement to include inspection before the boat and its trailer are transported.

It would also require that DEEP-approved safe boating courses include instruction on proper boat and boat trailer inspection and removal of plants and invasive species.

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