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Texas Statutes (Last Updated: January 4, 2014) |
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PARKS AND WILDLIFE CODE |
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Title 4. WATER SAFETY |
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Chapter 31. WATER SAFETY |
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Subchapter D. BOATING REGULATIONS |
Sec. 31.108. BOATER EDUCATION PROGRAM
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(a) The commission shall adopt rules to:
(1) administer a boater education program that is designed to educate persons about the safe operation of vessels;
(2) approve boater education courses that meet or exceed the minimum instruction requirement, as the requirement exists on January 1, 1997, established by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators;
(3) create an equivalency examination that may be taken, as the commission determines is consistent with promoting public safety in the operation of vessels, instead of the boater education course; and
(4) ensure that boater education courses and examinations are available in each county.
(b) The commission by rule may create exemptions from boater education requirements imposed by statute to the extent the exemptions are consistent with promoting public safety in the operation of vessels.
(c) The commission by rule shall create a standard form for a boater identification card to be issued to a person who successfully completes a boater education course or course equivalency examination.
(d) The department may appoint agents to:
(1) administer a boater education course or course equivalency examination; and
(2) issue boater identification cards under guidelines established by the commission.
(e) An officer or employee of the department shall collect a $5 examination or course fee and forward the fee and any examination documentation to the department not later than the 30th day after the date the examination or course is administered.
(f) An agent acting under authority of Subsection (d):
(1) shall collect a $10 examination or course fee and forward the fee and any examination documentation to the department not later than the 30th day after the date the examination or course is administered; and
(2) may collect and keep a $3 service fee, or an amount set by the commission, whichever is greater.