BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                    C.S.H.B. 1892

                                                                                                                                           By: Eiland

                                                                                                                                             Insurance

                                                                                                        Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Currently, due to expanded interpretation of the law, challenge courses are required to register under the Texas Amusement Ride Safety Inspection and Insurance Act.  Challenge courses are not amusement rides.  Unlike amusement rides, challenge courses rely heavily on trained instructors and relevant curriculum.  Challenge courses are designed and used for educational purposes.  Trained facilitators lead groups through this properly sequenced collection of elements intended to gradually build self-confidence while promoting team building, trust, decision-making, conflict resolution and communication skills.  Participants are presented with increasingly difficult challenges that require a physical, social, emotional and intellectual response.   CSHB 1892 seeks to clarify the original legislation, exempting such courses from this act.

 

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

 

SECTION 1:  Creates Section 2151.107 of the Occupations Code exempting challenge courses from meeting amusement park rides insurance requirements.  Establishes insurance requirements for challenge courses.

 

SECTION 2:  Effective date

 

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

Upon passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary number of votes, the Act takes effect September 1, 2005.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

 

The language in Section 1 of the original is not in the substitute.  Section 1 of the substitute creates Section 2151.107 of the Occupations Code exempting challenge courses from meeting amusement park rides insurance requirements.  The substitute also establishes insurance requirements for challenge courses.