A bill to authorize expenditures for boating safety programs, and for other purposes.

(Reported to House from the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, amended, H. Rept. 100-786 (Part I))

Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the Boat Safety Account in the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund to: (1) increase from $45,000,000 to $70,000,000 the amount permissible in the Account without triggering a prohibition of Highway Trust Fund transfers into the Account for FY 1991 and thereafter; and (2) extend from April 1, 1989, to October 1, 1994, the date before which expenditures may be made from the Account for recreational boating safety programs.

Grants the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating liquidating contract authority with respect to State recreational boating safety programs in an amount equal to one-half (currently two-thirds) of the amount of motorboat fuel taxes transferred to the Account in FY 1988 and thereafter.

Requires the Secretary to use at least one percent, but not more than two percent, of these funds to pay for investigations, personnel, and activities relating to recreational boating safety program administration. (This requirement corresponds to current law under a Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1986 provision repealed by this Act.)

Increases from one-third to one-half the portion of Account funds available for Coast Guard services in connection with recreational boating safety services. Prohibits fiscal year expenditures for Coast Guard expenses from exceeding those for State boating safety programs generally.

Amends Federal law to require States equitably to allocate between marine fish projects and freshwater fish projects all Sport Fish Restoration Account monies apportioned to them, funding the projects in proportion to the estimated numbers of resident marine and freshwater anglers in the State. Sets the FY 1988 freshwater project allocation as the minimum amount for subsequent freshwater project allocations.

Amends Federal law to permit a State to use contributions of funds, real property, materials, and services to carry out certain fish restoration and management projects in lieu of paying its share of the activity.

Directs the Secretaries of Transportation and of the Interior jointly to: (1) conduct a study of the number, size, principal uses, and fuel use in connection with recreational vessels operating on U.S. waters; and (2) report results to specified congressional leadership not later than October 1, 1991.