Bill Text: TX HB337 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to the use of emergency engine cutoff switches on motorboats; creating a criminal offense.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-06-14 - Effective on 9/1/19 [HB337 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HB337-Enrolled.html
H.B. No. 337 |
|
||
relating to the use of emergency engine cutoff switches on | ||
motorboats; creating a criminal offense. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. 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 a 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 motorboat is under way and moving at | ||
greater than headway speed without first verifying that the switch | ||
is operational and fully functional and properly attaching the | ||
lanyard or wireless attachment, as appropriate for the specific | ||
motorboat, to the operator's body or to the clothing or personal | ||
flotation device being worn by the operator. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 31.127, Parks and Wildlife Code, is | ||
amended by adding Subsection | ||
(g) to read as follows: | ||
(g) A person who operates a motorboat in violation of | ||
Section 31.1071 commits an offense punishable by a fine of not more | ||
than $200. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. | ||
______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
I certify that H.B. No. 337 was passed by the House on March | ||
26, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 115, Nays 31, 1 present, not | ||
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. | ||
No. 337 on May 22, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 115, Nays 26, | ||
2 present, not voting. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||
I certify that H.B. No. 337 was passed by the Senate, with | ||
amendments, on May 14, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays | ||
6. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
APPROVED: __________________ | ||
Date | ||
__________________ | ||
Governor |