Bill Text: TX HCR46 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Designating April as Beach Safety and Rip Current Awareness Month for a 10-year period beginning in 2021.
Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2021-06-14 - Signed by the Governor [HCR46 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HCR46-Enrolled.html
| H.C.R. No. 46 | ||
|
|
||
| WHEREAS, Every year, countless Texans flock to beaches to | ||
| enjoy the sunshine, sand, and waves, but it is important for | ||
| visitors to be aware of the potential dangers that can arise from | ||
| swimming in the ocean; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of | ||
| fast-moving water that flow outward to sea; these currents have an | ||
| average speed of around one to two feet per second, but some can be | ||
| as fast as eight feet per second; many swimmers are caught off guard | ||
| by the sensation of being pulled out to sea and react by attempting | ||
| to swim directly to shore, putting themselves at risk of exhaustion | ||
| and drowning; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Signs that a rip current may be present include a | ||
| break in the wave pattern, a visible channel of choppy, churning | ||
| water, a line of foam or debris moving seaward, and a difference in | ||
| water color; if a swimmer is caught in a rip current, he or she | ||
| should swim parallel to, rather than against the force of the | ||
| current, until it is weak enough that the swimmer can head to shore; | ||
| if he or she is unable to escape that way, it is best to float or | ||
| tread water and signal for help; it is imperative that swimmers | ||
| remain calm and try to conserve their energy; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Beach visitors should be mindful of the flag warning | ||
| system, which is used to signal hazardous conditions in the water, | ||
| such as strong currents, high bacteria levels, and jellyfish or | ||
| other marine life; visitors can also receive daily updates on the | ||
| beach conditions from the National Weather Service; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Recognizing and being prepared for rip currents and | ||
| other hazards can save lives, and it is important that Texans take | ||
| the time to educate themselves about these dangers to ensure that | ||
| they have a safe, healthy, and enjoyable beach vacation; now, | ||
| therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the 87th Legislature of the State of Texas | ||
| hereby designate April as Beach Safety and Rip Current Awareness | ||
| Month; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section | ||
| 391.004(d), Government Code, this designation remain in effect | ||
| until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally | ||
| passed by the legislature. | ||
| Hunter | ||
| ______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
| President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
| I certify that H.C.R. No. 46 was adopted by the House on May | ||
| 11, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 3, 2 present, not | ||
| voting. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
| I certify that H.C.R. No. 46 was adopted by the Senate on May | ||
| 27, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| APPROVED: __________________ | ||
| Date | ||
| __________________ | ||
| Governor | ||
