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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the safe and efficient provision of pilot services by |
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the board of pilot commissioners for Harris County ports. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 5007.209(b), Special District Local Laws |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The training program must provide the person with |
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information regarding: |
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(1) the legislation that created the authority; |
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(2) the programs, functions, policies, rules, and |
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budget of the authority; |
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(3) the results of the most recent formal audit of the |
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authority; |
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(4) [the duties of the port commission as the board of
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pilot commissioners for Harris County ports under Chapter 66,
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Transportation Code;
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[(5)] the requirements of laws relating to open |
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meetings, public information, administrative procedure, financial |
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disclosure, and conflicts of interest; and |
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(5) [(6)] any applicable ethics policies adopted by |
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the port commission or the Texas Ethics Commission. |
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SECTION 2. Section 66.017, Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 66.017. DUTIES. The board shall: |
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(1) establish the number of pilots necessary to |
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provide adequate pilot services for each Harris County port; |
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(2) accept applications for pilot licenses and |
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certificates and determine whether each applicant meets the |
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qualifications for a pilot; |
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(3) submit to the governor lists of applicants the |
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board finds to be qualified for appointment as pilots; |
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(4) establish pilotage rates; |
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(5) approve the locations for pilot stations; |
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(6) establish times during which pilot services will |
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be available; |
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(7) hear and determine complaints relating to the |
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conduct of pilots; |
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(8) recommend to the governor each pilot whose license |
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or certificate should not be renewed or should be revoked; |
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(9) adopt rules and issue orders to pilots or vessels |
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when necessary to secure efficient pilot services, including |
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minimizing the interference of two-way routes; |
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(10) institute investigations or hearings or both to |
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consider casualties, accidents, or other actions that violate this |
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chapter; and |
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(11) provide penalties to be imposed on a person who is |
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not a pilot for a Harris County port who pilots a vessel into or out |
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of the port if a pilot offered those services to the vessel. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 66, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 66.0171 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 66.0171. ONE-WAY TRAFFIC. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "One-way traffic" means a limitation on an area |
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imposed by the board where the meeting, turnaround, and overtaking |
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of ships are prohibited. |
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(2) "Port authority" means the Port of Houston |
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Authority of Harris County, Texas. |
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(b) The board may not impose one-way traffic for more than |
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one vessel per week. |
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(c) A vessel for which one-way traffic is imposed: |
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(1) may not call and depart from a port authority |
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terminal on the same day; and |
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(2) must be capable of turning around within the |
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turning basin serving the applicable port authority terminal. |
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(d) The executive director of the port authority is |
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authorized to take any action necessary, including the execution |
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and delivery of documents, to carry out this section. |
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(e) The limitation in Subsection (b) does not apply to |
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one-way traffic governed by an authorization issued by the United |
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States Coast Guard for a dredging vessel or vessel operated by |
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military forces personnel. |
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(f) This section expires August 31, 2021. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter B, Chapter 66, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 66.0172 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 66.0172. EFFICIENT PILOT SERVICE; MAXIMUM VESSEL |
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LENGTH. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Two-way route" means a directional route within |
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defined limits inside which two-way traffic is established, and |
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which is intended to improve safety in waters where navigation is |
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difficult. |
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(2) "Two-way traffic" means that traffic flow by all |
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vessels is permitted in opposing directions. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), in order to ensure |
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safe and efficient pilot services, the maximum overall length of a |
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vessel, including the bulbous bow, that may be piloted within the |
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board's jurisdiction is 1,100 feet. |
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(c) The board may adopt rules authorizing the piloting of |
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vessels with a maximum overall length that exceeds the length |
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provided for in Subsection (b) if the board determines, upon |
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recommendation from not less than 80 percent of the pilots |
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authorized to operate under the board's jurisdiction, that two-way |
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routes may safely and efficiently be maintained and that two-way |
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traffic may safely and efficiently be conducted. |
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(d) Any rules adopted under Subsection (c) must establish |
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the maximum overall vessel length that may be piloted in a manner |
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that maintains safe and efficient two-way routes and safe and |
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efficient two-way traffic as recommended by not less than 80 |
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percent of the pilots authorized to operate under the board's |
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jurisdiction. |
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(e) Before adopting any rules under Subsection (c), the |
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board must conduct at least two public hearings. |
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SECTION 5. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this |
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section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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(b) Sections 1, 2, and 4 of this Act take effect September 1, |
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2021. |