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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to life preserving devices on recreational vessels. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 31.066, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 31.066. LIFE PRESERVING DEVICES. (a) A motorboat must |
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have at least one personal flotation device [life preserver], life |
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belt, ring buoy, or other device of the sort prescribed by the |
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regulations of the commandant of the Coast Guard for each person on |
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board, so placed as to be readily accessible. |
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(b) A motorboat carrying passengers for hire must have a |
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readily accessible personal flotation device [life preserver] of |
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the sort prescribed by the regulations of the commandant of the |
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Coast Guard for each person on board. |
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(c) The operator of a class A or class 1 motorboat, while |
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underway, shall require every passenger under 13 years of age to |
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wear a personal flotation device [life preserver] of the sort |
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prescribed by the regulations of the commandant of the Coast Guard. |
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A life belt or ring buoy does not satisfy this requirement. |
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(d) A person may not operate a recreational vessel 16 feet |
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or more in length unless the vessel is equipped with: |
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(1) the number of personal flotation devices required |
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under Subsection (a); and |
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(2) additionally, at least one Type IV personal |
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flotation device of the sort prescribed by the regulations of the |
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commandant of the Coast Guard. |
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(e) Subsection (d) does not apply to the operation of a |
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kayak. |
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SECTION 2. Section 31.073, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1) and |
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(a-2) to read as follows: |
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(a) All canoes, punts, rowboats, sailboats, and rubber |
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rafts when paddled, poled, oared, or windblown are exempt from all |
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safety equipment requirements except as provided by this section. |
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(a-1) A canoe of any length and any other vessel described |
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by Subsection (a) that is under 16 feet in length must be equipped |
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with [the following]: |
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(1) one Coast Guard approved lifesaving device for |
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each person aboard; and |
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(2) the lights prescribed by the commandant of the |
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Coast Guard for class A vessels and required under Section 31.064. |
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(a-2) A vessel described by Subsection (a) that is 16 feet |
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or more in length and that is not a canoe must be equipped with: |
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(1) the safety equipment prescribed by Subsection |
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(a-1); and |
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(2) additionally, at least one Type IV personal |
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flotation device of the sort prescribed by the regulations of the |
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commandant of the Coast Guard. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |