Congressional act to help boat service and repair

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – When the U.S. House of Representatives approved the U.S. Coast Guard Authorization Act Thursday, it included a provision to provide targeted relief to the recreational marine servicing and repair industry, as well as to the entire recreational boating community, the Marine Industries Association of South Florida said in a press release.

The provision provides a complete exemption for the service and repair sector of the recreational boating industry from the requirement for coverage under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, as long as state workers’ compensation coverage is in place. The provision in the Coast Guard bill also provides specific relief to 165’ or under recreational boat manufacturers.

The provision will result in additional jobs, more competitive pay rates and will aid marine business retention, MIASF said.

“If enacted, this legislation will have a major positive economic impact on South Florida as well as the rest of the country’s recreational marine industry,” said Kristina Hebert, MIASF past president and vice president of operations for Ward’s Marine Electric.

The Act was approved with a bi-partisan vote in the House of Representatives and efforts will now focus on securing passage in the U.S. Senate.

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