"Recreational boating is incredibly popular in the United States. According to the U.S. Coast Guard's Recreational Boating Statistics, over 12.4 million recreational vessels were registered in the states in 2010. Many of these vessels are small enough to be towed overland on trailers, allowing boaters to enjoy the wonderful fishing, water sport, and scenic opportunities available at waters around the country. Unfortunately, more is moving than just boats. Mud and plants can cling to the exterior of boats and boat trailers. Water can remain in ballast tanks, live wells, and other compartments. If proper precautions are not taken, boaters may inadvertently transport species to new environments where they can cause economic, environmental, and human harm by disrupting existing ecosystems. In extreme cases, these new arrivals - referred to as "aquatic invasive species" - can reduce fish populations, alter water quality, and damage public infrastructure. In recent years, states around the country have taken action to reduce the risk that aquatic invasive species, such as quagga mussels and Eurasian water milfoil, are spread through the movement of trailered boats. States have funded extensive public education and outreach campaigns to raise awareness of the threat and promote best management practices. Some have enacted laws that require boaters to self-inspect their boats and pull drain plugs upon exiting from the water. A few states, primarily concentrated in the west where the looming threat of a quagga or zebra mussel invasion prompted legislative action, have implemented watercraft inspection and decontamination (WID) programs. WID programs seek to reduce the risk of aquatic invasive species spread through the inspection and decontamination of watercraft and equipment by trained personnel. Currently western WID programs take a variety of forms. Although standard protocols for inspection and decontamination have been developed by the Pacific State Marine Fisheries Commission, state usage and terminology varies. Other non-western states also have some similar provisions and protocols in place, but again these vary. As a result, boaters crossing state lines encounter a potentially confusing array of inspection and decontamination requirements. Inspectors are often unsure of the WID history of a given boat and thus may unknowingly subject a boat to more scrutiny than is necessary. This increases WID implementation costs and inconveniences boaters. Interstate cooperation and reciprocity is essential to effectively manage aquatic invasive species risks from recreational boats and other pathways. Purpose: These Model State Legislative Provisions were developed for two purposes. First, the provisions provide guidance to states with WID programs to create a foundation for reciprocity. Second, for states without WID programs, the provisions outline a legal framework for the authorization of new WID programs. Where states are able to align their legal authorities on this topic, the initial groundwork is laid to facilitate the adoption of standard protocols and agreements among states to accept one another's inspections, decontaminations, and receipts. In turn, alignment of state legislative provisions can greatly reduce confusion among the boating public and increase compliance, reduce the need for federal legislation to address interstate issues, and simplify law enforcement with respect to knowing violators or repeat offenders."--Executive Summary.