(a) A person convicted of a violation of subdivision (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), or (f) of Section 655, or of Section 655.2, 655.6, 655.7, 658, or 658.5, or of subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 681, or of Section 191.5 or subdivision (a) of Section 192.5 of the Penal Code, or of the federal rules of the road and pilot rules, not including equipment requirements, incorporated by reference in Section 6600.1 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, or found by a court to have performed any of the acts described in Section 6697 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, pertaining to a mechanically propelled vessel but not to manipulating any water skis, an aquaplane, or similar device, when the conviction resulted from the operation of a vessel, shall be ordered by the court to complete and pass a boating safety course approved by the department pursuant to Section 668.3.

(b) A person who has been ordered by the court to complete and pass a boating safety course pursuant to this section shall submit to the court proof of completion and passage of the course within seven months of the time of his or her conviction. The proof shall be in a form that has been approved by the department and that provides for the ability to submit the form to the court through the United States Postal Service. If the person who has been required to complete and pass a boating safety course is under 18 years of age, the court may require that the person obtain parental consent to enroll in the course. If the person does not complete and pass the boating safety course, the court may extend the period for completion or impose another penalty as prescribed by statute.

(c) The department shall adopt regulations to carry out this section, including approval of boating safety education courses, as specified in Section 668.3, prescribing the forms for proof of completion and passage, approval of testing to indicate appropriate mastery of the course subject matter, and setting forth any fees to be charged to course participants, which fees shall not exceed the expenses associated with providing the course.

(Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 610, Sec. 35. (SB 717) Effective January 1, 2010.)