Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer

Texas Parks and Wildlife Code - PARKS & WILD § 31.108. Boater Education Program

Current as of January 01, 2024 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(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 established by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators on or after January 1, 2016, and adopted by commission rule;

(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.

(a-1) A boater education course or equivalency examination under this section must include information on how to prevent the spread of exotic harmful or potentially harmful aquatic plants, fish, and shellfish, including department-approved methods for cleaning:

(1) a boat;

(2) a boat's motor;

(3) fishing and other equipment;  and

(4) a boat trailer.

(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.

(g) Money received by the department under Subsections (e) and (f)(1) shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the game, fish, and water safety account established under Section 11.032 and may be used only for the administration of the boater education program established under this section.

Previous Part of Code Next Part of Code
Back to Chapter List

Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Texas Parks and Wildlife Code - PARKS & WILD § 31.108. Boater Education Program - last updated January 01, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/parks-and-wildlife-code/parks-wild-sect-31-108/

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.

Was this helpful?

Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes

A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.

Go to Learn About the Law

Latest Blog Posts

For Legal Professionals

Learn About The Law

Get help with your legal needs

FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.

Go to Learn About the Law

Need to Find an Attorney?

Search our directory by legal issue

Enter information in one or both fields (Required)

Copied to clipboard