By: Hunter (Senate Sponsor - Hegar) H.B. No. 2981
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 4, 2011;
May 5, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on
Transportation and Homeland Security; May 20, 2011, reported
adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following
vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 20, 2011, sent to printer.)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 2981 By: Hinojosa
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
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 child
is riding; providing a penalty.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter I, Chapter 545, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 545.4145 to read as follows:
Sec. 545.4145. RIDING IN OR ON BOAT OR PERSONAL WATERCRAFT
DRAWN BY VEHICLE; OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if the
person operates a motor vehicle on a highway or street when a child
younger than 18 years of age is occupying a boat or personal
watercraft being drawn by the motor vehicle.
(b) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that
the person was:
(1) operating the motor vehicle in a parade or in an
emergency; or
(2) operating the motor vehicle on a beach.
(c) In this section, "boat" and "personal watercraft" have
the meanings assigned by Section 31.003, Parks and Wildlife Code.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
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