after reading the bill, it looks as though funding will be from the $10 fee that you pay to get your card once you have passed a course of instruction. The state will only establish the criteria for the course, not teach it. It is up to you to find a course that meets the criteria and pass the course, which may or may not cost you any money.
As for the reasoning behind the bill, I can only guess that they are talking with boating saftey group and the 30 plus states that already have boat operator permits in place. I am not sure if it will have a great impact on the number of knuckle heads out there and the stupid things they do, but it may give the law enforcement guys another tool to help control these people.
I have always thought that there should be some kind of required training before you were allowed on navigable waters just to help insure the saftey of other boaters. It is always interesting when you are coming in or out of a busy port or water way and everybody is following the rules of the road except 1 yahoo that keeps everyone guessing what he is going to do next.
Will this permit help?? I don't know. I don't see the state making a whole lot of money on it so I can't see it as a big revenue deal. Does it give the law enforcement guys any help? I don't know this either, maybe one of our local boys in blue could chime in. Is this something I would lose any sleep over? Not a wink. I would just go to the license place with my power squadron certificate, pay my $10 and be on my way.
By the way if you haven't taken a Power squadron or coast gaurd class, look into it. You may save some money on your boat insurance and maybe learn a thing or two, I know I did.