By: Ashby (Senate Sponsor - Nichols) H.B. No. 1553
         (In the Senate - Received from the House April 17, 2023;
  April 19, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on
  Business & Commerce; May 17, 2023, reported favorably by the
  following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 17, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
 
  COMMITTEE VOTE
 
 
         YeaNayAbsentPNV
         SchwertnerX
         KingX
         BirdwellX
         CampbellX
         CreightonX
         JohnsonX
         KolkhorstX
         MenéndezX
         MiddletonX
         NicholsX
         ZaffiriniX
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the definition of amusement ride for purposes of
  amusement ride regulation.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 2151.002(1), Occupations Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
               (1)  "Amusement ride" means a mechanical device that
  carries passengers along, around, or over a fixed or restricted
  course or within a defined area for the purpose of giving the
  passengers amusement, pleasure, or excitement. The term does not
  include:
                     (A)  a coin-operated ride that:
                           (i)  is manually, mechanically, or
  electrically operated;
                           (ii)  is customarily placed in a public
  location; and
                           (iii)  does not normally require the
  supervision or services of an operator;
                     (B)  nonmechanized playground equipment,
  including a swing, seesaw, stationary spring-mounted animal
  feature, rider-propelled merry-go-round, climber, playground
  slide, trampoline, and physical fitness device; [or]
                     (C)  a challenge course or any part of a challenge
  course that is excepted from this chapter under Section 2151.107;
  or
                     (D)  a waterslide, even if operated by a
  mechanical device, in which passengers are carried along a course
  that:
                           (i)  is less than 200 feet in length;
                           (ii)  is substantially constructed from
  vinyl or vinyl coated polyester; and
                           (iii)  is not mechanically inflated using a
  continuous airflow device [if the person who operates the challenge
  course has an 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 operator against liability for injury
  to persons arising out of the use of the challenge course, in an
  amount not less than:
                           [(i)  for facilities with a fixed location:
                                 [(a)  $100,000 bodily injury and
  $50,000 property damage per occurrence, with a $300,000 annual
  aggregate; or
                                 [(b)  a $150,000 per occurrence
  combined single limit, with a $300,000 annual aggregate; and
                           [(ii)  for facilities other than those with
  a fixed location:
                                 [(a)  $1,000,000 bodily injury and
  $500,000 property damage per occurrence; or
                                 [(b)  $1,500,000 per occurrence
  combined single limit].
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
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