Mar. 21, 2013 – The Georgia House of Representatives passed new boating safety regulations yesterday.

The legislation changes boating under the influence laws to look more like driving under the influence laws.

It also phases in safety education courses and raises the life jacket requirement age to 13 years old from 10.

The law also raises the age limit to operate some boats and personal watercraft and requires boating education.

Unfortunately the bill goes back to the Senate due to a typo in the Senate-passed bill, but it’s expected to be on Gov. Nathan Deal’s desk soon.

The bill, which is split into the “Kile Glover Boat Education Law” and the “Jake and Griffin Prince BUI Law,” lowers the legal limit of blood alcohol for someone operating a water vessel to .08 percent, from .10.

That is the same limit for motor vehicle DUI laws and the new hunting regulations.

Jake Prince, 9, and Griffin Prince, 13, from Buford, were killed on Lake Lanier after a center console fishing boat rammed into the pontoon boat their family and three other families were riding on last June.

The fishing boat operator faces several charges, including homicide by vessel and boating under the influence.

The penalties for violating BUI or HUI laws will also escalate for repeat offenders.

The family of 11-year-old Kile Glover, who is the other name sake of the law, watched as the Georgia House of Representatives passed the new boating safety regulations.

Glover, son of entertainer Usher’s ex-wife Tameka Raymond, and Ryan Glover, an executive for Bounce TV, died last July after the tube he was riding on was run over by a personal watercraft.

Jeffrey Simon Hubbard of Atlanta has pleaded not guilty to charges including homicide by vessel.

The bill passed by a vote of 146-17.