Wray appointed co-chair of boat safety committee

Raleigh — Rep. Michael H. Wray has been appointed by House Speaker Joe Hackney as co-chair of the Joint Select Committee on Mandatory Boating Safety Education.

“As our coastal population continues to grow and the number of boaters increases, we need to constantly re-examine our boating safety requirements,” Rep. Wray said. “I’m honored that Speaker Hackney has given me the opportunity to lead the group looking into this important matter.”

According to the authorization creating the 14-member select committee, the group may examine:

Requiring completion of safety education requirements before operating a motorboat or personal watercraft.

Who should be subject to boating education requirements.

Whether to phase in boating education requirements.

The potential costs of imposing new boating education requirements.

Reciprocity of boating education requirements among and between jurisdictions.

Whether there should be a minimum age specified for boat operators.

Possible exemptions and appropriate penalties for noncompliance with boating education requirements.

Rep. Wray is a Democrat in his second term representing Northampton, Vance and Warren counties. He is chairman of the Education Subcommittee on Community Colleges and vice chairman of the Wildlife Resources committee.