86R9974 ADM-F

By: Paxton S.B. No. 1495

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the regulation of amusement rides by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 2151.002, Occupations Code, is amended by amending Subdivisions (4) and (5) and adding Subdivision (5-a) to read as follows:

(4) "Commission" ["Commissioner"] means the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation [commissioner of insurance].

(5) "Department" means the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation [Insurance].

(5-a) "Executive director" means the executive director of the department.

SECTION 2. Section 2151.051, Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 2151.051. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. The executive director [commissioner] shall administer and enforce this chapter.

SECTION 3. Section 2151.052(a), Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The commission [commissioner] shall establish reasonable and necessary fees, in an amount not to exceed $40 per year, for each amusement ride covered by this chapter.

SECTION 4. Section 2151.101(a), Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) A person may not operate an amusement ride unless the person:

(1) has had the amusement ride inspected at least once a year by an insurer or a person with whom the insurer has contracted;

(2) obtains a written certificate from the insurer or person with whom the insurer has contracted stating that the amusement ride:

(A) has been inspected;

(B) meets the standards for insurance coverage; and

(C) is covered by the insurance required by Subdivision (3);

(3) except as provided by Sections 2151.1011 and 2151.1012, has a combined single limit or split limit insurance policy currently in effect written by an insurance company authorized to do business in this state or by a surplus lines insurer, as defined by Chapter 981, Insurance Code, or has an independently procured policy subject to Chapter 101, Insurance Code, insuring the owner or operator against liability for injury to persons arising out of the use of the amusement ride in an amount of not less than:

(A) for Class A amusement rides:

(i) $100,000 bodily injury and $50,000 property damage per occurrence with a $300,000 annual aggregate; or

(ii) a $150,000 per occurrence combined single limit with a $300,000 annual aggregate; and

(B) for Class B amusement rides:

(i) $1,000,000 bodily injury and $500,000 property damage per occurrence; or

(ii) $1,500,000 per occurrence combined single limit;

(4) files with the department [commissioner], as required by this chapter, the inspection certificate and the insurance policy or a photocopy of the certificate or policy authorized by the executive director [commissioner]; and

(5) files with each sponsor, lessor, landowner, or other person responsible for the amusement ride being offered for use by the public a photocopy of the inspection certificate and the insurance policy required by this subsection.

SECTION 5. Sections 2151.1021(a) and (c), Occupations Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) The commission [commissioner] shall adopt rules requiring operators of mobile amusement rides to perform inspections of mobile amusement rides, including rules requiring daily inspections of safety restraints.

(c) The executive director [commissioner] shall prescribe forms for inspections required under this section and shall require records of the inspections to be made available for inspection by any municipality, county, or state law enforcement officials at any location at which an amusement ride is operated.

SECTION 6. Sections 2151.1022(b) and (c), Occupations Code, are amended to read as follows:

(b) The operator shall file with the department [commissioner] quarterly a report, on a form designed by the executive director [commissioner], describing each governmental action taken in the quarter covered by the report for which the operator is required by Subsection (a) to maintain records. A report is not required in any quarter in which no reportable governmental action was taken in any state in which the person operated the amusement ride.

(c) A person who operates an amusement ride shall maintain for not less than two years at any location where the ride is operated, for inspection by a municipal, county, or state law enforcement official, a photocopy of any quarterly report required under this section or Section 2151.103 to be filed with the department [commissioner].

SECTION 7. Section 2151.103(c), Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c) The operator shall file an injury report with the department [commissioner] on a quarterly basis. The report shall be made on a form prescribed by the executive director [commissioner] and shall include a description of each injury caused by a ride that results in death or requires medical treatment.

SECTION 8. Section 2151.105(a), Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The commission [commissioner] shall adopt rules requiring that a sign be posted to inform the public how to report an amusement ride that appears to be unsafe or to report an amusement ride operator who appears to be violating the law.

SECTION 9. Section 2151.151, Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 2151.151. INJUNCTION. The district attorney of a county in which an amusement ride is operated or, on request of the executive director [commissioner of insurance], the attorney general or an agent of the attorney general, may seek an injunction against a person operating an amusement ride in violation of this chapter or in violation of a rule adopted by the commission [commissioner] under Section 2151.1021 or 2151.105.

SECTION 10. Sections 2151.152(a), (b), and (c), Occupations Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) The executive director or a [A] municipal, county, or state law enforcement official, in conjunction with the executive director, may determine compliance with a provision of Subchapter C, other than Section 2151.104, [in conjunction with the commissioner] and may institute an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to enforce this chapter.

(b) The executive director or a [A] municipal, county, or state law enforcement official may enter and inspect without notice any amusement ride at any time to ensure public safety.

(c) The operator of an amusement ride shall immediately provide the inspection certificate and the insurance policy required by Section 2151.101 to the executive director or a municipal, county, or state law enforcement official requesting the information. A photocopy of the inspection certificate or insurance policy may be provided instead of the certificate or policy.

SECTION 11. Sections 2151.1525(a), (b), and (d), Occupations Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) Except as provided by Subsection (e), the executive director or a municipal, county, or state law enforcement official may immediately prohibit operation of an amusement ride if:

(1) the operator of the amusement ride is unable to provide the documents or a photocopy of the documents required by Section 2151.152(c);

(2) the executive director or law enforcement official reasonably believes the amusement ride is not in compliance with Section 2151.101; or

(3) the operation of the amusement ride, conduct of a person operating the amusement ride, conduct of a person assembling the amusement ride if it is a mobile amusement ride, or any other circumstance causes the executive director or law enforcement official to reasonably believe that the amusement ride is unsafe or the safety of a passenger on the amusement ride is threatened.

(b) If the operation of an amusement ride is prohibited under Subsection (a)(1) or (2), a person may not operate the amusement ride unless:

(1) the operator presents to the executive director or the appropriate municipal, county, or state law enforcement official proof of compliance with Section 2151.101; or

(2) the executive director [commissioner] or the executive director's [commissioner's] designee determines that on the date the amusement ride's operation was prohibited the operator had on file with the department [board] the documents required by Section 2151.101 and issues a written statement permitting the amusement ride to resume operation.

(d) If on the date an amusement ride's operation is prohibited under Subsection (a)(3) the amusement ride is in compliance with Section 2151.101, a person may not operate the amusement ride until:

(1) on-site corrections are made;

(2) an order from a district judge, county judge, judge of a county court at law, justice of the peace, or municipal judge permits the amusement ride to resume operation; or

(3) an insurance company insuring the amusement ride on the date the amusement ride's operation was prohibited:

(A) reinspects the amusement ride in the same manner required by Section 2151.101; and

(B) delivers to the executive director [commissioner] or the executive director's [commissioner's] designee and the appropriate law enforcement official a reinspection certificate:

(i) stating that the required reinspection has occurred;

(ii) stating that the amusement ride meets coverage standards and is covered by insurance in compliance with Section 2151.101; and

(iii) explaining the necessary repairs, if any, that have been made to the amusement ride after its operation was prohibited.

SECTION 12. Section 2151.1526(b), Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) If a mobile amusement ride was in compliance with Section 2151.101 when its operation was initially prohibited under Subsection (a), a person may resume operating the mobile amusement ride only after an insurance company insuring the amusement ride on the date its operation was prohibited:

(1) reinspects the amusement ride in the same manner required under Section 2151.101; and

(2) delivers to the executive director [commissioner] or the executive director's [commissioner's] designee a reinspection certificate:

(A) stating that the required reinspection has occurred;

(B) stating that the amusement ride meets coverage standards and is covered by insurance in compliance with Section 2151.101; and

(C) explaining the necessary repairs, if any, that have been made to the amusement ride after its operation was prohibited.

SECTION 13. Section 2151.153(a), Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) A person commits an offense if the person fails to comply with any requirement of:

(1) Section 2151.101, 2151.102, 2151.103, 2151.1525(b), (c), or (d), or 2151.1526(a); or

(2) a rule adopted by the commission [commissioner] under Section 2151.1021 or 2151.105.

SECTION 14. The Texas Department of Insurance and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation may enter into a memorandum of understanding that:

(1) identifies in detail the applicable powers and duties that are transferred between the two agencies by this Act; and

(2) establishes a plan for the identification and transfer of the records, personnel, property, and unspent appropriations of the Texas Department of Insurance that are related to the regulation of amusement rides under Chapter 2151, Occupations Code.

SECTION 15. (a) On January 1, 2020, the following are transferred from the Texas Department of Insurance to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation:

(1) the powers, duties, functions, programs, and activities of the Texas Department of Insurance relating to the licensing and regulation of amusement rides under Chapter 2151, Occupations Code;

(2) any obligations and contracts of the Texas Department of Insurance that are directly related to implementing a power, duty, function, program, or activity transferred under this Act; and

(3) all property and records in the custody of the Texas Department of Insurance that are related to a power, duty, function, program, or activity transferred under this Act and all funds appropriated by the legislature for that power, duty, function, program, or activity.

(b) The rules, policies, procedures, and decisions of the commissioner of insurance under Chapter 2151, Occupations Code, are continued in effect as rules, policies, procedures, and decisions of the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation until superseded by a rule or other appropriate action of the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation.

SECTION 16. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section, this Act takes effect January 1, 2020.

(b) Section 14 of this Act takes effect September 1, 2019.