§ 8-10-5-23 — Per launch watercraft fee; deposit of fees; watercraft fee decal

(a) The fiscal body of a city that creates or
participates in the creation under this chapter of a port authority that
includes a channel that is ordinarily navigable to Lake Michigan may
impose a marina launch fee for a watercraft that is launched from a
marina, dock, or port located on waters that are under the jurisdiction
of the port authority created by the city.
(b) The owner of a watercraft subject to a fee under this section
shall pay one (1) of the following:
(1) A launch fee of one dollar ($1) per launch.
(2) An annual marina launch fee of:
(A) seventy-five cents ($0.75) per foot for a watercraft of thirty
(30) feet or less in length; or
(B) one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) per foot for watercraft
over thirty (30) feet in length.
(c) A marina, dock, or port:
(1) located on waters that are under the jurisdiction of a port
authority created by a city under this chapter; and
(2) from which a watercraft is launched;
shall collect the marina launch fee imposed on the watercraft under this
section. Not later than the fifteenth day of each month, each marina,
dock, or port shall remit to the city fiscal officer the amount of fees
collected under this section during the immediately preceding month.
(d) The marina launch fees imposed under this section by a city
described in subsection (a) shall be deposited in the cumulative
channel maintenance fund established under section 17 of this chapter.
(e) Upon collecting a fee under this section, a marina, dock, or port
shall issue to the person who owns the watercraft:
(1) a paper permit that indicates the day for which the fee was
paid, in the case of a one (1) time marina launch fee; or
(2) a decal that indicates the year for which the fee was paid, in
the case of an annual marina launch fee.
(f) The decal or permit issued under subsection (e) must be
displayed on the watercraft during the period for which the decal or
permit is issued. A watercraft that displays a valid annual marina
launch decal or permit under this subsection is not subject to an annual
watercraft docking fee imposed under section 22 of this chapter.
(g) The general assembly finds that in port authorities that include
a channel that is ordinarily navigable to Lake Michigan there exist
unique problems related to necessary dredging and cleaning of
channels used by boats that operate on the Great Lakes. These unique
problems may be alleviated by the authorization of a launch fee under
this section.

Legislative History

As added by P.L.34-2004, SEC.3.