By: Harris S.B. No. 2505
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to safety of children who participate in rodeos.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 9, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 768 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 768. CHILDREN PARTICIPATING IN RODEOS
Sec. 768.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Bull riding helmet" means a rodeo helmet that is
designed to provide substantial protection for a person's head and
face during bull riding.
(2) "Child" means a person under 18 years of age.
(3) "Department" means the Department of State Health
Services.
(4) "Executive commissioner" means the executive
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.
(5) "Protective vest" means protective clothing that
covers a person's chest and torso to prevent or mitigate injury to
those areas.
(6) "Rodeo" means an exhibition or competition,
without regard to whether the participants are compensated,
involving activities related to cowboy skills, including:
(A) riding a horse, with or without a saddle,
with the goal of remaining on the horse while it attempts to throw
off the rider;
(B) riding a bull;
(C) roping an animal, including roping as part of
a team;
(D) wrestling a steer; and
(E) riding a horse in a pattern around preset
barrels or other obstacles.
(7) "Rodeo helmet" means headgear that is designed to
provide protection for a person's head during a rodeo activity
other than bull riding.
Sec. 768.002. PROTECTIVE GEAR REQUIRED FOR CHILDREN
ENGAGING IN CERTAIN RODEO ACTIVITIES. (a) A child may not engage
in, and a parent or legal guardian of the child may not knowingly or
recklessly permit the child to engage in, a rodeo activity
described by Section 768.001(6)(A) or (D), including engaging in
that activity outside a rodeo for the purpose of practicing that
activity, unless the child is wearing a rodeo helmet.
(b) A child may not engage in, and a parent or legal guardian
of the child may not knowingly or recklessly permit the child to
engage in, bull riding, including engaging in bull riding outside a
rodeo for the purpose of practicing bull riding, unless the child is
wearing a bull riding helmet and a protective vest.
(c) To satisfy the requirements of this section, a helmet or
protective vest must meet the standards adopted under Section
768.004.
(d) In a cause of action in which damages are sought for
injuries or death suffered by a child in connection with a rodeo
activity, including bull riding, the failure of the child or of the
parent or legal guardian of the child to comply with this chapter
does not constitute responsibility causing or contributing to the
cause of the child's injuries or death for purposes of Chapter 33,
Civil Practice and Remedies Code.
Sec. 768.003. RODEOS ASSOCIATED WITH SCHOOL. (a) This
section applies only to a primary or secondary school that
sponsors, promotes, or otherwise is associated with a rodeo in
which children who attend the school are likely to participate.
(b) A primary or secondary school to which this section
applies shall, not more than 14 days before each rodeo associated
with the school, conduct a mandatory educational program on safety,
including the proper use of protective gear, for children planning
to participate in the rodeo. The educational program may consist of
an instructional video, subject to department approval.
(c) A child may not participate in a rodeo associated with
the child's school unless the child completes the educational
program under this section not more than 14 days before the first
day of the rodeo.
Sec. 768.004. RULES. (a) The executive commissioner by
rule shall adopt standards for:
(1) rodeo helmets;
(2) bull riding helmets; and
(3) protective vests.
(b) For purposes of this section, the executive
commissioner may adopt standards established under federal law or
adopted by a federal agency or a nationally recognized
organization.
(c) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules
establishing requirements for the educational program under
Section 768.003.
SECTION 2. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies
only to a rodeo activity that occurs on or after January 1, 2010.
(b) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission shall adopt the rules required by Section
768.004, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, not later
than November 1, 2009.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.