Bill Text: TX HB1988 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Relating to the use of emergency engine cutoff switches on motorboats.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-05-08 - Received from the House [HB1988 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HB1988-Engrossed.html
| 85R21445 AAF-D | ||
| By: Larson | H.B. No. 1988 | |
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| relating to the use of emergency engine cutoff switches on | ||
| motorboats. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as Kali's Law. | ||
| SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 31, Parks and Wildlife | ||
| Code, is amended by adding Section 31.1071 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 31.1071. OPERATION OF MOTORBOAT WITH EMERGENCY ENGINE | ||
| CUTOFF SWITCH. (a) In this section, "engine cutoff switch" means | ||
| an emergency switch installed on a motorboat that: | ||
| (1) is designed to shut off the engine if: | ||
| (A) the motorboat operator using a lanyard | ||
| attachment activates the switch by falling overboard or otherwise | ||
| moving beyond the length of the lanyard; or | ||
| (B) the motorboat operator or a passenger using a | ||
| wireless attachment activates the switch by falling overboard and | ||
| submerging the man-overboard transmitter; and | ||
| (2) attaches: | ||
| (A) physically to the motorboat operator through | ||
| the use of a lanyard worn by the operator; or | ||
| (B) wirelessly through the use of a | ||
| water-activated man-overboard transmitter worn by the motorboat | ||
| operator or any similarly equipped passenger on the motorboat. | ||
| (b) A motorboat operator may not operate a motorboat less | ||
| than 26 feet in length and equipped by the manufacturer with an | ||
| engine cutoff switch while the engine is running and the motorboat | ||
| is under way without first verifying that the switch is operational | ||
| and fully functional and: | ||
| (1) if using a lanyard attachment, properly attaching | ||
| the lanyard, as appropriate for the specific motorboat, to the | ||
| operator's body or to the clothing or personal flotation device | ||
| being worn by the operator; or | ||
| (2) if using a wireless attachment, properly attaching | ||
| to each individual on the motorboat an operational man-overboard | ||
| transmitter. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect January 1, 2018. | ||
