89R3505 BEE-D
By: Leo Wilson H.B. No. 787
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to authorizing the Texas Department of Transportation to
provide battery service to a vehicle transported on the
Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry; authorizing a fee.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 342, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 342.005 to read as follows:
Sec. 342.005. RESTARTING VEHICLE BATTERY ON GALVESTON-PORT
BOLIVAR FERRY. (a) At the request of a vehicle operator, a
qualified ferry employee may attempt to restart the battery of a
motor vehicle transported on the Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry
operated by the department. For purposes of this subsection, a
ferry employee is qualified to provide the service described by
this subsection if the employee has completed training described by
Subsection (c).
(b) Before providing the service described by Subsection
(a), a ferry employee must confirm the absence of hazardous gas.
(c) The department shall:
(1) offer training to ferry personnel regarding the
safe use of equipment to:
(A) detect hazardous gas; and
(B) restart a motor vehicle battery; and
(2) provide and maintain in good operating condition:
(A) equipment for detecting hazardous gas; and
(B) equipment for restarting a motor vehicle
battery.
(d) The department may charge a fee for providing the
service described by Subsection (a) in an amount set by the
department that is reasonable and necessary to cover the costs of
administering this section.
SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2025, the Texas
Department of Transportation shall adopt rules necessary to
administer Section 342.005, Transportation Code, as added by this
Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.