by By Alexander H.B. No. 3107
77R4217 SGA-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to requiring occupants of certain boats to wear a
1-3 lifesaving device.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 31.066, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
1-6 amended to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 31.066. LIFESAVING [LIFE PRESERVING] DEVICES. (a) A
1-8 motorboat must have at least one Coast Guard approved lifesaving
1-9 device [life preserver, life belt, ring buoy, or other device of
1-10 the sort prescribed by the regulations of the commandant of the
1-11 Coast Guard] for each person on board, so placed as to be readily
1-12 accessible.
1-13 (b) A motorboat carrying passengers for hire must have at
1-14 least one readily accessible Coast Guard approved lifesaving device
1-15 [a readily accessible life preserver of the sort prescribed by the
1-16 regulations of the commandant of the Coast Guard] for each person
1-17 on board.
1-18 (c) The operator of a class A or class 1 motorboat, while
1-19 underway, shall wear and require every occupant of the boat
1-20 [passenger under 13 years of age] to wear a Coast Guard approved
1-21 lifesaving device [life preserver of the sort prescribed by the
1-22 regulations of the commandant of the Coast Guard]. A life belt or
1-23 ring buoy does not satisfy this requirement.
1-24 SECTION 2. Section 31.073(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is
2-1 amended to read as follows:
2-2 (a) All canoes, kayaks, punts, rowboats, sailboats, and
2-3 *** rafts, or any vessels less than 26 feet in length, when
2-4 paddled, poled, oared, [or] windblown, or floating with the
2-5 current, are exempt from all safety equipment requirements except
2-6 the following:
2-7 (1) each vessel shall be equipped with:
2-8 (A) one Coast Guard approved lifesaving device
2-9 for each person aboard; and
2-10 (B) [(2)] the lights prescribed by the
2-11 commandant of the Coast Guard for class A vessels and required
2-12 under Section 31.064; and
2-13 (2) each person aboard shall wear a lifesaving device
2-14 while the vessel is underway.
2-15 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
