By Goolsby H.B. No. 2624 75R7555 MI-F A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the regulation of sailboat competitions. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Section 31.022, Parks and Wildlife Code, is 1-5 amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: 1-6 (e) A vessel participating in a sailboat regatta, race, or 1-7 other competitive event or exhibition is exempt from the numbering 1-8 display requirement of Section 31.021 while the vessel is competing 1-9 in or practicing, tuning up, or rehearsing for the event or 1-10 exhibition if the vessel: 1-11 (1) is in compliance with the permanent hull number 1-12 identification requirement of the United States Coast Guard 1-13 regulations or of this chapter that is applicable to the vessel; 1-14 (2) is in compliance with any other registration or 1-15 titling requirement of this chapter that is applicable to the 1-16 vessel, including the payment of any fee or tax; and 1-17 (3) displays the validation decal required by Section 1-18 31.032. 1-19 SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended 1-20 by adding Section 31.108 to read as follows: 1-21 Sec. 31.108. SAILBOAT COMPETITIONS. (a) A sailboat 1-22 regatta, race, or other competitive event or exhibition may be 1-23 conducted under and governed by the rules of the International 1-24 Sailing Federation (ISAF) and the requirements of the United States 2-1 Sailing Association (USS) if: 2-2 (1) each participant in the event or exhibition: 2-3 (A) agrees in writing to be bound by those rules 2-4 and requirements; and 2-5 (B) complies with each applicable provision of 2-6 this chapter, the United States Coast Guard inland navigation 2-7 rules, and local rules and ordinances in a meeting with a 2-8 nonparticipating vessel; and 2-9 (2) each vessel participating in the event or 2-10 exhibition complies with applicable safety equipment requirements 2-11 of this chapter. 2-12 (b) The department or another agency authorized to enforce 2-13 this chapter may on request of the organizing authority or sponsor 2-14 of the event or exhibition provide public safety patrols to 2-15 regulate nonparticipating vessel traffic for any regatta, race, 2-16 exhibition, or other organized sailboat activity if the action 2-17 would be prudent to ensure safe navigation. 2-18 (c) To the extent of any conflict between this chapter and a 2-19 rule of the International Sailing Federation or a requirement of 2-20 the United States Sailing Association under which a sailboat 2-21 regatta, race, or other competitive event or exhibition is being 2-22 conducted, as provided by Subsection (a), the rule or requirement 2-23 prevails. 2-24 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 2-25 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-26 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-27 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-1 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-2 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.