Bill Text: TX HCR46 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Designating April as Beach Safety and Rip Current Awareness Month for a 10-year period beginning in 2021.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2021-06-14 - Signed by the Governor [HCR46 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HCR46-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Designating April as Beach Safety and Rip Current Awareness Month for a 10-year period beginning in 2021.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2021-06-14 - Signed by the Governor [HCR46 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HCR46-Introduced.html
87R11038 CJM-D | ||
By: Hunter | 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. |