Texas Water Safety Partners
LEGISLATION BILLS
Bills now filed related to boater
education, please see bills listed below:
-
HB 4197
Legler filed late last week
(attached). Includes changes to boater education requirements and fee
structure for the course, as well as removes inconsistency from pwc
operation age limits.
-
SB 2095
Wentworth - deletes age 18 exemption under 31.010 (attached)
-
HB 7
Hilderbran (Section 4-5) - makes changes to 31.106 PWC and 31.107
Motorboat operation requirements (attached)
Additional bills that affect boating:
-
SB 328 Amends
Transportation Code and Alcoholic Beverage Code to include driver’s
license suspension for individuals who submit to and fail a
breath or blood alcohol test for BWI (operating a watercraft).
-
HB 3108 Establishes a
Boating Safety Advisory Panel to conduct a study assessing current
conditions and making recommendations regarding boating safety.
-
HB 3109 .
-
Amends 31.099 PW Code
heading “Prohibition on Circular Course Around Individuals
Engaged in Water Activities
Fisherman or Swimmer”
-
Includes
waterskiing or similar activity.
-
Amends 31.106 (a) (4)
No person may operate a personal watercraft within 100
50
feet …………..
-
Amends 31.107
increasing distance to 100 feet for all motorboats……………
-
Amends 31.128 to
allow MSEO officer fine money be deposited to the entity of the
employing agency.
Any questions about these
bills or comments about the bills themselves should be directed to your
legislator or the Bill sponsor. More information can be found at
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/.
If you have questions for TPWD,
please contact Major Alfonso Campos, the State Boating Law Administrator, or
Mr. Harold Stone, the TPWD Legislative Liaison.
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