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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to reportable boating accidents and the penalties for |
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certain boating accidents. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 31.105(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The operator of a vessel involved in a collision, |
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accident, or other casualty that results in death or injury to a |
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person or damage to property in excess of an amount set by the |
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commission of not less than $2,000 [$500] shall report to [file
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with] the department on or before the expiration of 30 days after |
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the incident a full description of the collision, accident, or |
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casualty in accordance with regulations established by the |
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department. |
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SECTION 2. Section 31.132, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 31.132. REPORTING PROCEDURES FOR ENFORCEMENT |
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OFFICERS. A marine safety enforcement officer shall provide to the |
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department on a form prescribed by the department a report of any |
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incident the officer investigates that involves a boating accident, |
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water fatality, or person who allegedly operates a boat while |
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intoxicated. The officer shall provide the report not later than |
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the 15th day after the date the officer initially became aware of |
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the incident [occurred]. |
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SECTION 3. Section 24(g), Water Safety Act (Article 9206, |
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Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), as added by Section 1, Chapter 48 |
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(H.B. 146), Acts of the 64th Legislature, Regular Session, 1975, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 4. (a) The Parks and Wildlife Commission shall |
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adopt rules required to implement Section 31.105(a), Parks and |
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Wildlife Code, as amended by this Act, not later than December 1, |
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2011. |
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(b) Section 31.105(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, as amended |
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by this Act, applies only to a report for an accident that occurs on |
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or after January 1, 2012. A report for an accident that occurs |
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before January 1, 2012, is governed by the law in effect at the time |
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of the accident, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |