Assemblymen Pasqual Imetengel introduced the bill, NSA Bill No. 13-03, during the first regular session of the NSA on October 18, 2006.
Since then, the bill has been discussed, debated, and deferred. It was assigned to NSA’s Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Affairs (JGA).
The bill proposes to mandate a required registration of all motored boats in Ngarchelong State and to allocate the use of the registration fees collected for specific purposes.
It is indicated in the body of the bill that Ngarchelong State Government does not have a statute governing boat registry; and the over the years, the number of boats used within the territory of the state has increased significantly.
Further, enforcement of the state’s marine laws and the recently established traditional moratorium has been difficult due to lack of boat registry records and funding.
According to the bill, mandating mandatory boat registry of all boats in Ngarchelong guarantees at least two things: 1. Much needed revenues will be collected and 2. Enforcement of established laws and traditional moratoriums would be less difficult as boats could be easily identified.
A proposed fee of $25 could be collected for motored boats weighing 2 tons or less and $50 for boats that weigh 10,000 pounds or more.
The proposed fees will be charged to “any person who owns, stores, or operates a motored boat” within the boundaries of the state of Ngarchelong. The proposed bill will not apply to boats “whose travel destination necessitates entry in territorial waters of Ngarchelong State.”
The NSA’s JGA Committee has reviewed the bill and has forwarded its report to the Speaker of the NSA. The bill has been placed in the “order of business” for the members of the NSA to discuss during their next session.
