89R25983 AND-F

By: Perez of Harris, Canales, Patterson, H.B. No. 4337

Hernandez

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 4337:

By: Craddick C.S.H.B. No. 4337

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the regulation of pilots for the ports of Harris County.

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

SECTION 1. Section 66.002(3), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:

(3) "Harris County port" means a place in Harris or Chambers County into which a vessel using the Houston Ship Channel enters or from which a vessel using the Houston Ship Channel departs, and the waterway leading to that place from the Gulf of Mexico, including any intermediate stops, anchorages, or landing places.

SECTION 2. Section 66.015, Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 66.015. JURISDICTION. The board has exclusive jurisdiction over the regulation of pilots who provide pilot services in Harris County ports, including any intermediate stops, anchorages, or [and] landing places for vessels on navigable streams wholly or partially located in the board's jurisdiction.

SECTION 3. Section 66.040(b), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) A deputy branch pilot's certificate expires on the fourth [third] anniversary of the date it is issued and may [not] be renewed as provided by Section 66.042.

SECTION 4. Section 66.042, Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 66.042. DEPUTY BRANCH PILOT'S CERTIFICATE RENEWAL [PILOT]. A person who has been issued a deputy branch pilot's certificate may apply to renew the certificate if the deputy branch pilot is reappointed by a branch pilot as provided by Section 66.038 [not be issued a deputy branch pilot's certificate before the fifth anniversary of the date the person was previously issued a deputy branch pilot's certificate].

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.