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AN ACT
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relating to the operation of golf carts, neighborhood electric |
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vehicles, and off-highway vehicles; authorizing fees. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 57.002(7), Business & Commerce Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(7) "Equipment": |
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(A) means machinery, equipment, or implements or |
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attachments to the machinery, equipment, or implements used for, or |
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in connection with, any of the following purposes: |
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(i) lawn, garden, golf course, landscaping, |
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or grounds maintenance; |
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(ii) planting, cultivating, irrigating, |
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harvesting, or producing agricultural or forestry products; |
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(iii) raising, feeding, or tending to |
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livestock, [or] harvesting products from livestock, or any other |
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activity in connection with those activities; or |
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(iv) industrial, construction, |
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maintenance, mining, or utility activities or applications; and |
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(B) does not mean: |
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(i) trailers or self-propelled vehicles |
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designed primarily for the transportation of persons or property on |
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a street or highway; or |
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(ii) [all-terrain vehicles, utility task
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vehicles, or recreational] off-highway vehicles. |
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SECTION 2. Section 75.001(3), Civil Practice and Remedies |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(3) "Recreation" means an activity such as: |
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(A) hunting; |
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(B) fishing; |
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(C) swimming; |
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(D) boating; |
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(E) camping; |
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(F) picnicking; |
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(G) hiking; |
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(H) pleasure driving, including off-road |
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motorcycling and off-road automobile driving and the use of |
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[all-terrain vehicles and recreational] off-highway vehicles; |
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(I) nature study, including bird-watching; |
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(J) cave exploration; |
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(K) waterskiing and other water sports; |
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(L) any other activity associated with enjoying |
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nature or the outdoors; |
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(M) bicycling and mountain biking; |
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(N) disc golf; |
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(O) on-leash and off-leash walking of dogs; or |
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(P) radio control flying and related activities. |
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SECTION 3. Section 2158.001(2), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(2) "Golf cart" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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551.401 [502.001], Transportation Code. |
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SECTION 4. Section 392.001(3), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(3) "Golf cart" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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551.401 [502.001], Transportation Code. |
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SECTION 5. Section 61.011(d), Natural Resources Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(d) The commissioner shall promulgate rules, consistent |
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with the policies established in this section, on the following |
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matters only: |
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(1) acquisition by local governments or other |
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appropriate entities or public dedication of access ways sufficient |
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to provide adequate public ingress and egress to and from the beach |
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within the area described in Subdivision (6); |
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(2) protection of the public easement from erosion or |
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reduction caused by development or other activities on adjacent |
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land and beach cleanup and maintenance; |
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(3) local government prohibitions of vehicular |
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traffic on public beaches, provision of off-beach parking, the use |
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on a public beach of a golf cart, as defined by Section 551.401 |
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[502.001], Transportation Code, for the transportation of a person |
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with a physical disability, and other minimum measures needed to |
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mitigate for any adverse effect on public access and dune areas; |
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(4) imposition of beach access, user, or parking fees |
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and reasonable exercises of the police power by local governments |
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