(a) A boat placed on water of the state must be titled, registered, and numbered as required by this chapter. The Department of Administration shall adopt by regulation a boat registration and numbering system that is consistent with the national standard for state numbering systems established by the United States Coast Guard.

(b) In adopting a boat registration system under (a) of this section, the Department of Administration shall authorize agents, including boat dealers, to register boats.

(c) A boat dealer shall require a purchaser of a new or used boat sold at retail to complete a registration application and pay the registration fee before the boat leaves the dealer's premises unless the boat is exempt from registration and numbering under this chapter or regulations adopted under this chapter.

(d) A person may not operate a boat on water of the state unless a valid certificate of number has been awarded by the Department of Administration to the boat and the identification number and any required validation decals are properly displayed on the boat.

(e) The Department of Administration shall authorize agents to accept an application and registration fee for registration, to issue a registration, and to forward the application and registration fee to the Department of Administration.

(f) Unless otherwise provided by this chapter, the owner of a boat for which a current certificate of number has been awarded under federal law or a federally approved numbering system of another state shall apply for a certificate of number in this state as required by this chapter if the boat is operated on water of the state for more than 90 consecutive days or if the boat is a barge and is operated on water of the state for more than 60 consecutive days. If a boat has an existing number, the owner may request that the department issue the same number for purposes of this section, and the department shall comply with the request unless compliance would result in a duplication of numbers.

(g) A certificate of number issued under this chapter is valid for three years unless terminated or discontinued earlier as required by this chapter and regulations adopted under this chapter. The certificate expires on the last day of the month at the end of the three-year period. The expiration date shall be indicated on the certificate.

(h) All records of ownership of boats that are kept by the Department of Administration under this section are public records. The Department of Administration shall provide records of ownership and registration expense reports to the Department of Public Safety for the purposes of meeting the federal requirements for state programs and implementing this chapter.

(i) The following boats are exempt from the numbering and registration provisions of this section:

(1) a boat that

(A) is not a barge;

(B) is operated in this state for a period not exceeding 90 consecutive days; and

(C) has a current, valid certificate of number issued by another state having a federally approved numbering system;

(2) a foreign boat operated in water of the state for a period not exceeding 90 consecutive days;

(3) a boat owned by the United States or an entity or political subdivision of the United States, or a boat owned by a state or an entity or political subdivision of a state;

(4) a boat that is not equipped with mechanical propulsion;

(5) a boat with a valid document to operate the boat that is issued by a foreign government;

(6) a handmade nonmotorized umiaq with a walrus or sealskin covering;

(7) a boat that

(A) is a barge;

(B) is operated in this state for a period not exceeding 60 consecutive days; and

(C) has a current, valid certificate of number issued by another state having a federally approved numbering system.