82R9913 AJZ-D
By: Davis of Dallas H.B. No. 3203
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to compulsory pilotage, including bond requirements for
certain branch pilots.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 61.003(a), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) A consignee having control of a vessel shall obtain a
pilot to provide pilot services when the vessel is under way or
otherwise moving on a river, bay, harbor, or port in this state
unless:
(1) the vessel is:
(A) [(1)] documented as a United States vessel
and licensed for and engaged in coastwise trade;
(B) [(2)] a public vessel;
(C) [(3)] of 20 gross tons or less;
(D) [(4)] a motorboat registered in this state;
or
(E) [(5)] subject to Subsection (b), in distress
or jeopardy; or
(2) the consignee having control of a vessel that is a
passenger cruiser has on six or more occasions:
(A) provided pilot services for the vessel to the
port from open sea or from the port to open sea; or
(B) served as the master of the vessel while a
pilot provided pilot services for the vessel.
SECTION 2. Section 62.042(b), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) The branch pilot must enter into a bond in the amount of
$100,000 [$5,000] with one or more good and sufficient sureties.
The bond must be:
(1) payable to the governor;
(2) conditioned on the faithful performance of the
branch pilot's duties;
(3) approved by the pilot board; and
(4) deposited in the office of the secretary of state.
SECTION 3. Section 63.043(b), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) The bond must:
(1) be in the amount of $100,000 [$5,000];
(2) be conditioned on the faithful performance of the
pilot's duties;
(3) be approved by the board for the port or, if there
is not a board for the port, by the county judge of the county in
which the port is located; and
(4) be sent to the governor.
SECTION 4. A branch pilot must comply with the amount of the
bond required by Section 62.042(b) or 63.043(b), Transportation
Code, as amended by this Act, by the earlier of:
(1) the date the branch pilot is appointed; or
(2) December 1, 2011.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.