81R24999 SLB-D
 
  By: Gutierrez H.B. No. 155
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 155:
 
  By:  Thibaut C.S.H.B. No. 155
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to access to rivers and riverbeds for individuals with
  physical disabilities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 90.003, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
  amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to
  read as follows:
         (a)  Section 90.002 does not apply to:
               (1)  a state, county, or municipal road right-of-way;
               (2)  a private road crossing established on or before
  December 31, 2003; or
               (3)  operation of a motor vehicle by:
                     (A)  a federal, state, or local government
  employee if operation of a motor vehicle is necessary for
  conducting official business;
                     (B)  a person if operation of a motor vehicle is
  necessary for reasonable purposes related to usual and customary
  agricultural activities;
                     (C)  a person if operation of a motor vehicle is
  necessary to and is authorized by a mineral lease;
                     (D)  a person if operation of a motor vehicle is
  necessary to and authorized by a crossing easement granted by the
  General Land Office under the Natural Resources Code;
                     (E)  a person if operation of a motor vehicle is
  necessary to an activity authorized by Chapter 86;
                     (F)  a person in response to an emergency;
                     (G)  a person if operation of a motor vehicle is
  necessary for the lawful construction, operation, or maintenance of
  equipment, facilities, or structures used for:
                           (i)  the production, transportation,
  transmission, or distribution of electric power;
                           (ii)  the provision of telecommunications
  services or other services delivered through a cable system;
                           (iii)  the transportation of aggregates,
  oil, natural gas, coal, or any product of oil, natural gas, or coal;
                           (iv)  the production, treatment, or
  transportation of water or wastewater; or
                           (v)  dredge material disposal placement;
                     (H)  an owner of the uplands adjacent to a
  protected freshwater area, the owner's agent, lessee, sublessee, or
  the lessee or sublessee's agent, representative, licensee,
  invitee, or guest for reasonable purposes related to usual and
  customary operation of:
                           (i)  a camp regulated under Chapter 141,
  Health and Safety Code; or
                           (ii)  a retreat facility owned and operated
  by a nonprofit corporation chartered under the laws of this state
  before January 1, 1970; [or]
                     (I)  an owner of the adjacent uplands on both
  sides of a protected freshwater area and the owner's agents,
  employees, representatives, and lessees only for the purpose of
  accessing the owner's property on the opposite side of the
  protected freshwater area when no reasonable alternate access is
  available; or
                     (J)  subject to Subsection (d), a person who has a
  permanent physical disability that substantially impairs one or
  more of the major life activities of the person.
         (d)  A person described by Subsection (a)(3)(J):
               (1)  must have in or on the motor vehicle used to access
  the protected freshwater area:
                     (A)  a disabled parking placard issued under
  Section 681.002, Transportation Code; or
                     (B)  a license plate issued under Section 504.201,
  Transportation Code;
               (2)  must have in the person's possession a written
  statement from a licensed physician documenting the extent of the
  disability; and
               (3)  may operate the motor vehicle used to access the
  protected freshwater area only:
                     (A)  on a part of the protected freshwater area
  that is not covered by water; and
                     (B)  for ingress to the river or stream or, for the
  purpose of making a 180-degree turn for egress, within 100 feet of
  the point of entry to the river or stream in a direction parallel to
  the river or stream.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.