.BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 596

By: Parker

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

An advisory panel on recreational boating safety was recently created to study the current state of recreational safety on public waters in Texas and to make recommendations for improving safety. The panel has recommended to the legislature prohibiting a person from operating a motorboat in a circular motion around another boat that is towing a person engaged in waterskiing or a similar activity. According to the panel members, such a maneuver is dangerous for all parties involved and has resulted in injury accidents and fatalities on public waterways. C.S.H.B. 596 seeks to enact this recommendation.

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

C.S.H.B. 596 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to include a personal watercraft among the vessels around which a person is prohibited from operating a motorboat in a circular course if any occupant of the vessel is engaged in certain water activities and includes waterskiing or a similar activity in those activities.  The bill exempts from the prohibition a person operating a motorboat in a circular course to retrieve a downed or fallen water-skier or other person engaged in a similar activity. The bill establishes the Britteny Sage Lindt Act as a short title by which its collective provisions are to be known. The bill makes nonsubstantive changes.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2011.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 596 contains a provision not in the original creating a short title for the bill.