1-1 By: Maxey (Senate Sponsor - Patterson) H.B. No. 394
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House April 4, 1997;
1-3 April 8, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural
1-4 Resources; May 1, 1997, reported favorably by the following vote:
1-5 Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 1, 1997, sent to printer.)
1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-7 AN ACT
1-8 relating to required equipment for racing shells, rowing sculls,
1-9 and racing kayaks.
1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11 SECTION 1. Section 31.073, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
1-12 amended to read as follows:
1-13 Sec. 31.073. CANOES, PUNTS, ROWBOATS, SAILBOATS, [AND]
1-14 RUBBER RAFTS, RACING SHELLS, ROWING SCULLS, AND RACING KAYAKS;
1-15 EQUIPMENT EXEMPTIONS. (a) All canoes, punts, rowboats, sailboats,
1-16 and rubber rafts when paddled, poled, oared, or windblown are
1-17 exempt from all [the required] safety equipment requirements except
1-18 the following:
1-19 (1) one Coast Guard approved lifesaving device for
1-20 each person aboard; and
1-21 (2) the lights prescribed by the commandant of the
1-22 Coast Guard for class A vessels and required under [in] Section
1-23 31.064 [of this code].
1-24 (b) Racing shells, rowing sculls, and racing kayaks while
1-25 participating in or practicing for an officially sanctioned race
1-26 are exempt from all safety equipment requirements except the lights
1-27 prescribed by the commandant of the Coast Guard for class A vessels
1-28 and required under Section 31.064.
1-29 (c) In this section, "racing shell," "rowing scull," or
1-30 "racing kayak" means a manually propelled boat:
1-31 (1) recognized by a national or international racing
1-32 association for use in competitive racing;
1-33 (2) not designed or used to carry equipment serving
1-34 any purpose other than competitive racing; and
1-35 (3) in which each occupant, except a coxswain, rows,
1-36 sculls, or paddles.
1-37 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
1-38 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
1-39 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-40 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-41 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-42 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
1-43 * * * * *