BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 673

By: Parker

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

An advisory panel on recreational boating safety was recently created to study the state of boating safety on public waters in Texas and to make recommendations for improving safety.  The panel has recommended to the legislature the development of an instructional video on recreational water safety and the inclusion of the video in Texas' driver education curriculum.  C.S.H.B. 673 seeks to implement this recommendation by providing for the production and use of an instructional video on recreational water safety.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Education Agency in SECTION 2 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 673 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to require the Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to produce a video on recreational water safety suitable for use with high school students as soon as production costs can be paid from money identified as available for that purpose in the department's operating budget. The bill requires the video to include instruction on safe participation in recreational activities in, on, or around the lakes, rivers, and coastal waters of Texas and requires TPWD to notify the Texas Education Agency (TEA) in writing when the video is available for the agency's use. The bill authorizes TPWD to edit the content of the recreational water safety video to produce a boater education video that complies with federal standards for boating education courses published by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators.

C.S.H.B. 673 amends the Education Code to require the TEA, by rule, to incorporate a curriculum module on recreational water safety into driver education instruction using the video on recreational water safety produced by TPWD when the agency is notified that the video is available.

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. 673 contains a provision not included in the original authorizing the Parks and Wildlife Department to edit the content of the recreational water safety video to produce a boater education video that complies with certain federal standards.