BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3108

By: Parker

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Since 2004, the number of boating fatalities per year in Texas has risen from 36 to 59, and the number of boating injury accidents per year has risen from 146 to 171. Additionally, from 2007 to 2008, the number of boating while intoxicated offenses rose by 23 percent.  

H.B. 3108 seeks to reverse these trends by creating an advisory panel to conduct an interim study on boating safety and report its findings to the legislature prior to the start of the 82nd Legislative Session.

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

H.B. 3108 requires the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives to each appoint three members to an advisory panel on recreational boating safety. The bill sets forth the issues to be studied and requires the panel, not later than December 31, 2010, to report the results of the study to the Parks and Wildlife Department, the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and members of the committee in each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over recreational boating. The bill requires the panel, for each area of study, to provide an estimate of the costs to boaters and the boating and tourism industries if the panel's recommendations were implemented. The bill requires one member of the panel appointed by the governor to serve as the panel's presiding officer and requires the panel to convene at the call of such person. The bill sets forth provisions regarding the members' entitlement to reimbursement for expenses incurred in carrying out the bill' provisions.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.