Relating to the restarting of a vehicle's battery while the vehicle is being transported on the Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry; authorizing a fee.

89(R) HB 787 - House Committee Report version - Bill Text

89R8981 AND-D

By: Leo Wilson, et al.

H.B. No. 787

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 787:

By: Craddick

C.S.H.B. No. 787

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the restarting of a vehicle's battery while the vehicle

is being transported on the Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry;

authorizing a fee.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 342, Transportation Code,

is amended by adding Section 342.005 to read as follows:

Sec.

342.005.

RESTARTING VEHICLE BATTERY ON GALVESTON-PORT

BOLIVAR FERRY. (a) The operator of a vehicle being transported on

the Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry operated by the department may

attempt to restart the vehicle's battery only if a ferry employee

confirms the absence of hazardous gas. At the request of the

vehicle operator, a ferry employee who has completed the training

described by Subsection (b) shall check for hazardous gas.

(b) The department shall:

(1)

provide training to ferry employees regarding the

safe use of equipment to detect hazardous gas; and

(2)

provide and maintain in good operating condition

equipment for detecting hazardous gas.

(c)

The department may charge a fee for providing the

service described by Subsection (a) in an amount set by the

department that is reasonable and necessary to cover the costs of

administering this section.

(d)

Nothing in this section requires a ferry employee to

attempt to restart the battery of a vehicle being transported on the

Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry operated by the department.

SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2025, the Texas

Department of Transportation shall adopt rules necessary to

administer Section 342.005, Transportation Code, as added by this

Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.