BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2981 By: Hunter Transportation Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Interested parties contend that, despite certain offenses relating to minors occupying the bed of an open-bed truck or trailer, there is a need for an offense relating to a person operating a motor vehicle with a person riding in a boat or personal watercraft being drawn by a vehicle. The parties further note that approximately 5,000 accidents have been reported involving a trailer drawn by a motor vehicle in parts of Texas where the tourist population swells during boating season. H.B. 2981 seeks to address this issue by establishing provisions relating to the operation on a highway or street of a motor vehicle that is drawing a boat or personal watercraft in or on which a person is riding and by providing a penalty. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 2981 amends the Transportation Code to create the offense of a person riding in or on a boat or personal watercraft drawn by a vehicle. The bill makes it an offense to operate a motor vehicle on a highway or street with another person occupying a boat or personal watercraft being drawn by the motor vehicle. The bill establishes a defense to prosecution that the person was operating the motor vehicle in a parade or in an emergency. The bill provides for the meanings of "boat" and "personal watercraft" by reference to the Parks and Wildlife Code. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2011.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 2981
By: Hunter
Transportation
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 2981
By: Hunter
Transportation
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Interested parties contend that, despite certain offenses relating to minors occupying the bed of an open-bed truck or trailer, there is a need for an offense relating to a person operating a motor vehicle with a person riding in a boat or personal watercraft being drawn by a vehicle. The parties further note that approximately 5,000 accidents have been reported involving a trailer drawn by a motor vehicle in parts of Texas where the tourist population swells during boating season. H.B. 2981 seeks to address this issue by establishing provisions relating to the operation on a highway or street of a motor vehicle that is drawing a boat or personal watercraft in or on which a person is riding and by providing a penalty.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 2981 amends the Transportation Code to create the offense of a person riding in or on a boat or personal watercraft drawn by a vehicle. The bill makes it an offense to operate a motor vehicle on a highway or street with another person occupying a boat or personal watercraft being drawn by the motor vehicle. The bill establishes a defense to prosecution that the person was operating the motor vehicle in a parade or in an emergency. The bill provides for the meanings of "boat" and "personal watercraft" by reference to the Parks and Wildlife Code.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2011.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Interested parties contend that, despite certain offenses relating to minors occupying the bed of an open-bed truck or trailer, there is a need for an offense relating to a person operating a motor vehicle with a person riding in a boat or personal watercraft being drawn by a vehicle. The parties further note that approximately 5,000 accidents have been reported involving a trailer drawn by a motor vehicle in parts of Texas where the tourist population swells during boating season. H.B. 2981 seeks to address this issue by establishing provisions relating to the operation on a highway or street of a motor vehicle that is drawing a boat or personal watercraft in or on which a person is riding and by providing a penalty.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 2981 amends the Transportation Code to create the offense of a person riding in or on a boat or personal watercraft drawn by a vehicle. The bill makes it an offense to operate a motor vehicle on a highway or street with another person occupying a boat or personal watercraft being drawn by the motor vehicle. The bill establishes a defense to prosecution that the person was operating the motor vehicle in a parade or in an emergency. The bill provides for the meanings of "boat" and "personal watercraft" by reference to the Parks and Wildlife Code.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2011.