By: Guillen (Senate Sponsor - Perry) H.B. No. 550
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 8, 2017;
May 17, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on
Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs; May 19, 2017, reported
favorably by the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0, 1 present not
voting; May 19, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to sound-producing devices on vessels.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 31.065, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 31.065. SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES. A vessel [motorboat]
must have an efficient whistle or other sound-producing device if
one is required by the commandant of the Coast Guard.
SECTION 2. Section 31.073(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) All canoes, kayaks, punts, rowboats, sailboats, rubber
rafts, and other paddle craft when paddled, poled, oared, or
windblown are exempt from all safety equipment requirements except
each vessel must have the following:
(1) one Coast Guard approved wearable personal
flotation device for each person aboard; [and]
(2) the lights prescribed by the commandant of the
Coast Guard for vessels and required under Section 31.064; and
(3) the sound-producing device prescribed by the
commandant of the Coast Guard for vessels and required under
Section 31.065.
SECTION 3. Section 31.127(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) A person who violates or fails to comply with any
provision of this chapter other than Section 31.073(a)(3), or who
violates or fails to comply with a proclamation of the commission
entered under this chapter or a city ordinance or order of a
commissioners court or a political subdivision of the state made or
entered under this chapter, commits an offense that is a Class C
Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor.
SECTION 4. 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, 2017.
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