BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1553

By: Ashby

Insurance

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, certain waterslides that are often located at church or summer camps are classified as "amusement rides" for purposes of state regulation. This classification makes offering these waterslides as part of their activities cost prohibitive for camps because they are subjected to the same inspection and additional insurance as an attraction at amusement parks such as Six Flags or Schlitterbahn. In some cases the inspection fees and insurance may cost more than $5,000 a year. H.B. 1553 seeks to address this situation by exempting certain waterslides that are less than 200 feet long from the regulations applicable to amusement rides.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1553 amends the Occupations Code to exclude from the definition of "amusement ride," for purposes of the Amusement Ride Safety Inspection and Insurance Act, a waterslide, including one operated by a mechanical device, in which passengers are carried along a course that is less than 200 feet in length, is substantially constructed from vinyl or vinyl coated polyester, and is not mechanically inflated using a continuous airflow device.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.