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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 66.002, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsections (6-a) and (6-b), to read as follows: |
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(6-a) "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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(6-b) "Two-way traffic" means that traffic flow is |
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permitted in opposing directions, but a vessel may not meet, cross, |
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nor overtake any other vessel in such a manner that it would be |
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abreast of more than one other vessel within the defined limits of a |
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waterway. |
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SECTION 3. 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 safe and efficient pilot services, |
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including 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 4. 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. EFFICIENT PILOT SERVICE; MAXIMUM VESSEL |
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LENGTH. (a) Except as provided by subsection (b), in order to |
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ensure safe and efficient pilot services, the maximum overall |
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length of a vessel, including the bulbous bow, that may be piloted |
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within the board's jurisdiction is 1,100 ft. |
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(b) The board may issue 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 (a) if the board determines, upon |
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recommendation from an association representing no less than fifty |
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percent of the pilots authorized to operate under the board's |
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jurisdiction, that two-way routes may safely and efficiently be |
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maintained and that two-way traffic safely and efficiently be |
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conducted. |
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(c) Any rules adopted under subsection (b) 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 an association |
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representing no less than fifty percent of the pilots authorized to |
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operate under the board's jurisdiction. |
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(d) Prior to issuing any rules under subsection (b), the |
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board must conduct at least two public hearings |