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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the requirement to complete the boater education course |
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and the deposit of fees from that course. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 31.107, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 31.107. OPERATION OF MOTORBOAT. No person may operate |
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a motorboat of over 10 [15] horsepower on the public waters of this |
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state unless the person has successfully completed a boater |
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education course as required by Section 31.109 and: |
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(1) is 16 years of age or older; or[:] |
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(2) [(1)] is at least 13 years of age and is |
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accompanied by a person (18) years of age or older who has |
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successfully completed a boater education course as required by |
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Section 31.109 [; or
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[(2) is at least 13 years of age and has successfully
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passed a boating safety course prescribed and approved by the
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department]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 31.109(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) This section applies only to a person who is[:
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[(1)born on or after September 1, 1984; and
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[(2)] operating on the public water of this state: |
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(1) [(A)] a vessel powered by a motor of 10 horsepower |
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or more; [or] |
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(2) [(B)] a windblown vessel over 14 feet in length; |
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or |
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(3) a vessel carrying passengers for hire. |
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SECTION 3. Section 31.110, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 31.110. EXEMPTION FROM BOATER EDUCATION COURSE |
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REQUIREMENT. A person is not required to comply with Section 31.109 |
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if the person: |
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(1) holds a master's, mate's, or operator's license |
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issued by the United States Coast Guard; or |
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(2) [is supervised by a person who:
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[(A) is otherwise exempt from the requirements of
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Section 31.109 or possesses a boater identification card as
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required by Section 31.109; and
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[(B)is at least 18 years of age;
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[(3)is at least 18 years of age;
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[(4)] is not a resident of this state and has proof |
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that the person has successfully completed a boater education |
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course or equivalency examination in another state that is approved |
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by the department[; or
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[(5)is exempt by rule of the department]. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter D, Chapter 31, Parks and Wildlife |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 31.112 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 31.112. FEES. (a) Any fees collected by the |
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department under Section 31.108 shall be deposited in the game, |
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fish, and water safety account established under Section 11.032. |
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(b) Interest that accrues on the account established under |
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Subsection (a) remains in that account. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |