LRB-3208/2
RNK:cjs:jf
2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE
December 20, 2013 - Introduced by Representatives Hesselbein, Mursau, A. Ott,
Sargent, Bies, Berceau, Ohnstad, Clark, Hebl and Hulsey, cosponsored by
Senators Wirch, Lassa, Lehman and Carpenter. Referred to Committee on
Natural Resources and Sporting Heritage.
AB591,1,2
1An Act to create 30.627 of the statutes;
relating to: regulating certain rafting
2outfitters.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill imposes requirements on rafting outfitters who provide inflatable
rafts for travel through Big Smokey Falls on the Wolf River in Menominee County.
Under the bill, such rafting outfitters must furnish a helmet to each occupant of the
raft and station an employee at Big Smokey Falls when the flow of the Wolf River
measures at between 700 and 900 cubic feet per second. The bill requires the rafting
outfitter to ensure that the stationed employee is trained to safely direct travelers
through Big Smokey Falls and has all information required to enable the employee
to immediately contact rescue personnel in the event of an emergency. The bill also
prohibits a rafting outfitter from providing a raft for travel down the Wolf River when
the flow of the river measures at 900 cubic feet per second or more.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB591,1
3Section
1. 30.627 of the statutes is created to read:
AB591,2,2
430.627 Regulation of certain rafting outfitters. (1) In this section "rafting
5outfitter" means a person who operates an establishment that provides inflatable
1rafts or other nonmotorized boats for travel on the Wolf River in Menominee County
2for a fee.
AB591,2,4
3(2) Every rafting outfitter who provides an inflatable raft for travel through Big
4Smokey Falls on the Wolf River in Menominee County shall do all of the following:
AB591,2,55
(a) Furnish a helmet to each occupant of the raft.
AB591,2,86
(b) Station an employee at Big Smokey Falls at any time that the U.S.
7geological survey's national water information system for Langlade County
8measures the flow of the Wolf River at between 700 and 900 cubic feet per second.
AB591,2,12
9(3) No rafting outfitter may provide an inflatable raft for travel on the Wolf
10River in Menominee County when the U.S. geological survey's national water
11information system for Langlade County measures the flow of the Wolf River at 900
12cubic feet per second or more.
AB591,2,17
13(4) Every rafting outfitter who is required to station an employee at Big
14Smokey Falls under sub. (2) shall ensure that the stationed employee is trained to
15safely direct travelers through Big Smokey Falls and has all of the information
16required to enable the stationed employee to immediately contact rescue personnel
17in the event of an emergency.
