Bill Text: TX HB4445 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to the safe and efficient provision of pilot services by the board of pilot commissioners for Harris County ports.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-04-29 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HB4445 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HB4445-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Relating to the safe and efficient provision of pilot services by the board of pilot commissioners for Harris County ports.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-04-29 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HB4445 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HB4445-Introduced.html
By: Canales | H.B. No. 4445 |
|
||
|
||
relating to the safe and efficient provision of pilot services by | ||
the Board of Pilot Commissioners for Harris County Ports. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 5007.209(b), Special District Local Laws | ||
Code, is amended to read as follows: | ||
(b) The training program must provide the person with | ||
information regarding: | ||
(1) the legislation that created the authority; | ||
(2) the programs, functions, policies, rules, and | ||
budget of the authority; | ||
(3) the results of the most recent formal audit of the | ||
authority; | ||
(4) [ |
||
|
||
|
||
[ |
||
meetings, public information, administrative procedure, financial | ||
disclosure, and conflicts of interest; and | ||
(5) [ |
||
the port commission or the Texas Ethics Commission. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 66.002, Transportation Code, is amended | ||
by adding Subsections (6-a) and (6-b), to read as follows: | ||
(6-a) "Two-way route" means a directional route within | ||
defined limits inside which two-way traffic is established, and | ||
which is intended to improve safety in waters where navigation is | ||
difficult. | ||
(6-b) "Two-way traffic" means that traffic flow is | ||
permitted in opposing directions, but a vessel may not meet, cross, | ||
nor overtake any other vessel in such a manner that it would be | ||
abreast of more than one other vessel within the defined limits of a | ||
waterway. | ||
SECTION 3. Section 66.017, Transportation Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 66.017. DUTIES. The board shall: | ||
(1) establish the number of pilots necessary to | ||
provide adequate pilot services for each Harris County port; | ||
(2) accept applications for pilot licenses and | ||
certificates and determine whether each applicant meets the | ||
qualifications for a pilot; | ||
(3) submit to the governor lists of applicants the | ||
board finds to be qualified for appointment as pilots; | ||
(4) establish pilotage rates; | ||
(5) approve the locations for pilot stations; | ||
(6) establish times during which pilot services will | ||
be available; | ||
(7) hear and determine complaints relating to the | ||
conduct of pilots; | ||
(8) recommend to the governor each pilot whose license | ||
or certificate should not be renewed or should be revoked; | ||
(9) adopt rules and issue orders to pilots or vessels | ||
when necessary to secure safe and efficient pilot services, | ||
including minimizing the interference of two-way routes; | ||
(10) institute investigations or hearings or both to | ||
consider casualties, accidents, or other actions that violate this | ||
chapter; and | ||
(11) provide penalties to be imposed on a person who is | ||
not a pilot for a Harris County port who pilots a vessel into or out | ||
of the port if a pilot offered those services to the vessel. | ||
SECTION 4. Subchapter B. Chapter 66, Transportation Code, | ||
is amended by adding Section 66.0171 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 66.0171. EFFICIENT PILOT SERVICE; MAXIMUM VESSEL | ||
LENGTH. (a) Except as provided by subsection (b), in order to | ||
ensure safe and efficient pilot services, the maximum overall | ||
length of a vessel, including the bulbous bow, that may be piloted | ||
within the board's jurisdiction is 1,100 ft. | ||
(b) The board may issue rules authorizing the piloting of | ||
vessels with a maximum overall length that exceeds the length | ||
provided for in subsection (a) if the board determines, upon | ||
recommendation from an association representing no less than fifty | ||
percent of the pilots authorized to operate under the board's | ||
jurisdiction, that two-way routes may safely and efficiently be | ||
maintained and that two-way traffic safely and efficiently be | ||
conducted. | ||
(c) Any rules adopted under subsection (b) must establish | ||
the maximum overall vessel length that may be piloted in a manner | ||
that maintains safe and efficient two-way routes and safe and | ||
efficient two-way traffic as recommended by an association | ||
representing no less than fifty percent of the pilots authorized to | ||
operate under the board's jurisdiction. | ||
(d) Prior to issuing any rules under subsection (b), the | ||
board must conduct at least two public hearings |