By Maxey H.B. No. 394
75R8189 KKA-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to required equipment for racing shells, rowing sculls,
1-3 and racing kayaks.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 31.073, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
1-6 amended to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 31.073. CANOES, PUNTS, ROWBOATS, SAILBOATS, [AND]
1-8 RUBBER RAFTS, RACING SHELLS, ROWING SCULLS, AND RACING KAYAKS;
1-9 EQUIPMENT EXEMPTIONS. (a) All canoes, punts, rowboats, sailboats,
1-10 and rubber rafts when paddled, poled, oared, or windblown are
1-11 exempt from all [the required] safety equipment requirements except
1-12 the following:
1-13 (1) one Coast Guard approved lifesaving device for
1-14 each person aboard; and
1-15 (2) the lights prescribed by the commandant of the
1-16 Coast Guard for class A vessels and required under [in] Section
1-17 31.064 [of this code].
1-18 (b) Racing shells, rowing sculls, and racing kayaks while
1-19 participating in or practicing for an officially sanctioned race
1-20 are exempt from all safety equipment requirements except the lights
1-21 prescribed by the commandant of the Coast Guard for class A vessels
1-22 and required under Section 31.064.
1-23 (c) In this section, "racing shell," "rowing scull," or
1-24 "racing kayak" means a manually propelled boat:
2-1 (1) recognized by a national or international racing
2-2 association for use in competitive racing;
2-3 (2) not designed or used to carry equipment serving
2-4 any purpose other than competitive racing; and
2-5 (3) in which each occupant, except a coxswain, rows,
2-6 sculls, or paddles.
2-7 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
2-8 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-9 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-10 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-11 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-12 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.