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AN ACT
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relating to the efficient provision of pilot services by the board |
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of pilot commissioners for Harris County ports. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 5007.209(b), Special District Local Laws |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The training program must provide the person with |
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information regarding: |
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(1) the legislation that created the authority; |
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(2) the programs, functions, policies, rules, and |
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budget of the authority; |
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(3) the results of the most recent formal audit of the |
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authority; |
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(4) [the duties of the port commission as the board of
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pilot commissioners for Harris County ports under Chapter 66,
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Transportation Code;
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[(5)] the requirements of laws relating to open |
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meetings, public information, administrative procedure, financial |
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disclosure, and conflicts of interest; and |
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(5) [(6)] any applicable ethics policies adopted by |
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the port commission or the Texas Ethics Commission. |
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SECTION 2. Section 66.016, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) The board may adopt a rule under this chapter involving |
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ship movement strategies, including navigation safety guidelines, |
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for use by pilots in the navigable water in this state only on a |
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recommendation from not less than 80 percent of the pilots |
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authorized to operate under the board's jurisdiction. |
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SECTION 3. Section 66.017, Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 66.017. DUTIES. The board shall: |
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(1) establish the number of pilots necessary to |
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provide adequate pilot services for each Harris County port; |
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(2) accept applications for pilot licenses and |
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certificates and determine whether each applicant meets the |
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qualifications for a pilot; |
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(3) submit to the governor lists of applicants the |
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board finds to be qualified for appointment as pilots; |
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(4) establish pilotage rates; |
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(5) approve the locations for pilot stations; |
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(6) establish times during which pilot services will |
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be available; |
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(7) hear and determine complaints relating to the |
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conduct of pilots; |
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(8) recommend to the governor each pilot whose license |
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or certificate should not be renewed or should be revoked; |
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(9) adopt rules and issue orders to pilots or vessels |
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when necessary to secure efficient pilot services, including |
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minimizing the interference of two-way routes; |
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(10) institute investigations or hearings or both to |
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consider casualties, accidents, or other actions that violate this |
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chapter; and |
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(11) provide penalties to be imposed on a person who is |
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not a pilot for a Harris County port who pilots a vessel into or out |
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of the port if a pilot offered those services to the vessel. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter B, Chapter 66, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 66.0172 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 66.0172. EFFICIENT PILOT SERVICE; MAXIMUM VESSEL |
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LENGTH. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Two-way route" means a directional route within |
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defined limits inside which two-way traffic is established, and |
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which is intended to improve safety in waters where navigation is |
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difficult. |
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(2) "Two-way traffic" means that traffic flow by all |
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vessels is permitted in opposing directions. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), in order to ensure |
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safe and efficient pilot services, the maximum overall length of a |
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vessel, including the bulbous bow, that may be piloted within the |
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board's jurisdiction is 1,100 feet. |
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(c) Subject to Section 66.016(c), the board by rule may |
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authorize piloting a vessel with an overall length that exceeds the |
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maximum overall length provided by Subsection (b) if the board |
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determines that the proposed rules would allow two-way routes to be |
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maintained efficiently and two-way traffic to be conducted |
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efficiently. Before adopting a rule under this subsection, the |
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board must hold at least two public hearings. This subsection does |
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not apply to the adoption of rules governing vessel traffic between |
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Morgan's Point and the Houston Turning Basin. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2223 passed the Senate on |
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April 24, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2; and that |
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the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 23, 2019, by the |
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following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2223 passed the House, with |
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amendment, on May 17, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 139, |
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Nays 0, three present not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |