S.B. No. 2223
AN ACT
relating to the efficient provision of pilot services by the board
of pilot commissioners for Harris County ports.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 5007.209(b), Special District Local Laws
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(b) The training program must provide the person with
information regarding:
(1) the legislation that created the authority;
(2) the programs, functions, policies, rules, and
budget of the authority;
(3) the results of the most recent formal audit of the
authority;
(4) [the duties of the port commission as the board of
pilot commissioners for Harris County ports under Chapter 66,
Transportation Code;
[(5)] the requirements of laws relating to open
meetings, public information, administrative procedure, financial
disclosure, and conflicts of interest; and
(5) [(6)] any applicable ethics policies adopted by
the port commission or the Texas Ethics Commission.
SECTION 2. Section 66.016, Transportation Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) The board may adopt a rule under this chapter involving
ship movement strategies, including navigation safety guidelines,
for use by pilots in the navigable water in this state only on a
recommendation from not less than 80 percent of the pilots
authorized to operate under the board's jurisdiction.
SECTION 3. Section 66.017, Transportation Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 66.017. DUTIES. The board shall:
(1) establish the number of pilots necessary to
provide adequate pilot services for each Harris County port;
(2) accept applications for pilot licenses and
certificates and determine whether each applicant meets the
qualifications for a pilot;
(3) submit to the governor lists of applicants the
board finds to be qualified for appointment as pilots;
(4) establish pilotage rates;
(5) approve the locations for pilot stations;
(6) establish times during which pilot services will
be available;
(7) hear and determine complaints relating to the
conduct of pilots;
(8) recommend to the governor each pilot whose license
or certificate should not be renewed or should be revoked;
(9) adopt rules and issue orders to pilots or vessels
when necessary to secure efficient pilot services, including
minimizing the interference of two-way routes;
(10) institute investigations or hearings or both to
consider casualties, accidents, or other actions that violate this
chapter; and
(11) provide penalties to be imposed on a person who is
not a pilot for a Harris County port who pilots a vessel into or out
of the port if a pilot offered those services to the vessel.
SECTION 4. Subchapter B, Chapter 66, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 66.0172 to read as follows:
Sec. 66.0172. EFFICIENT PILOT SERVICE; MAXIMUM VESSEL
LENGTH. (a) In this section:
(1) "Two-way route" means a directional route within
defined limits inside which two-way traffic is established, and
which is intended to improve safety in waters where navigation is
difficult.
(2) "Two-way traffic" means that traffic flow by all
vessels is permitted in opposing directions.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), in order to ensure
safe and efficient pilot services, the maximum overall length of a
vessel, including the bulbous bow, that may be piloted within the
board's jurisdiction is 1,100 feet.
(c) Subject to Section 66.016(c), the board by rule may
authorize piloting a vessel with an overall length that exceeds the
maximum overall length provided by Subsection (b) if the board
determines that the proposed rules would allow two-way routes to be
maintained efficiently and two-way traffic to be conducted
efficiently. Before adopting a rule under this subsection, the
board must hold at least two public hearings. This subsection does
not apply to the adoption of rules governing vessel traffic between
Morgan's Point and the Houston Turning Basin.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2223 passed the Senate on
April 24, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2; and that
the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 23, 2019, by the
following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2223 passed the House, with
amendment, on May 17, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 139,
Nays 0, three present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor