HBA-AMW H.B. 487 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 487 By: Hope Criminal Jurisprudence 3/2/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Each year, several Texans are injured in or die from alcohol-related accidents involving watercraft. Currently, the penalties for boating while intoxicated are not as strict as those for driving while intoxicated. House Bill 487 increases the penalties for operating a watercraft while intoxicated and modifies provisions regarding the collection of a blood or breath sample from a person suspected of operating a watercraft while intoxicated. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 487 amends the Transportation Code to increase the penalties for operating a watercraft while intoxicated. The bill amends provisions relating to the suspension of a driver's license to include boating while intoxicated or operating a watercraft while intoxicated. In situations in which a license is automatically suspended on final conviction of the license holder for an offense involving intoxication assault, the bill removes the stipulation that the license be automatically suspended only if the person used a motor vehicle in the commission of the offense. The bill also amends provisions relating to the procedures for the suspension of a license when a person refuses to submit to the taking of a specimen to include a person who commits an offense involving the operation of a watercraft while intoxicated. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.