81R1252 SLB-D
 
  By: Gutierrez H.B. No. 155
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to access to rivers and riverbeds for individuals with
  physical impairments.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 90.003(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is
  amended 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)  an individual who has a physical impairment
  that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities
  of the individual.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.