Malloy Signs 'Emily's Law' for Teen Boaters

Gov. Dannel Malloy has signed the bill named “Emily’s Law,” in memory of the Old Greenwich teen killed in a boating accident last summer, that will impose stricter regulations on teen boat operators.

Malloy signed the bill Thursday, 16 days after it was unanimously approved by the state House of Representatives.

The law — which takes effect Oct. 1 — will prohibit young teenage boaters from towing water skiers or tubers, and require the training of all boaters in proper towing techniques.

The bill is named in the memory of Emily Fedorko, the Old Greenwich teen who was fatally injured last summer when she was struck by a boat propeller while tubing on Long Island Sound, off the Greenwich coast. Following the death of the 16-year-old Greenwich High School junior, the Greenwich legislative delegation authored and introduced the bill that increased minimum age for towing any person by vessel from 13 to 16.

Fedorko’s parents who have created a safe boating foundation in Emily’s name testified before the legislature’s environmental committee in support of the bill.

Photo: Emily Fedorko via Facebook.