To provide for recreational access for floating cabins on the Tennessee River System, and for other purposes.

Bill: 114-hr-5987
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Meadows, Mark [R-NC-11]
Introduced: 2016-09-09
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Alabama

Georgia

Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises

Kentucky

Lakes and rivers

Licensing and registrations

Marine and inland water transportation

Mississippi

North Carolina

Outdoor recreation

Tennessee

Tennessee Valley Authority

Transportation safety and security

User charges and fees

Virginia
Latest action: action_date: 2016-09-12
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Summaries:
action_date: 2016-09-09
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill authorizes the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to approve and allow the construction and use of a floating cabin (a watercraft or other floating structure primarily designed and used for human habitation or occupation and not primarily designed or used for navigation or transportation on water) on TVA waters if: (1) such cabin is maintained by the owner to reasonable health, safety, and environmental standards; and (2) the TVA has authorized the use of recreational vessels on such waters. The TVA may levy necessary and reasonable fees on the owners of such cabins.</p> <p>The TVA may not require removal of floating cabins located on TVA waters on the date of enactment of this bill for specified periods after enactment of this bill and must allow continued use of such cabins that meet the requirements of this bill for the duration of such periods.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5987 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 9, 2016 Mr. Meadows introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To provide for recreational access for floating cabins on the Tennessee River System, and for other purposes.

1. Recreational access of floating cabins on waters under the jurisdiction of the Tennessee Valley Authority (a) Recreational access permitted The Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority may approve and allow the construction and use of a floating cabin on waters under the jurisdiction of the Tennessee Valley Authority if— (1) the floating cabin is maintained by the owner to reasonable health, safety, and environmental standards, as required by the Board of Directors; and (2) the Tennessee Valley Authority has authorized the use of recreational vessels on such waters. (b) Fees The Board of Directors may levy fees on the owner of a floating cabin on waters under the jurisdiction of the Tennessee Valley Authority for purposes of ensuring compliance with subsection (a), so long as such fees are necessary and reasonable for such purposes. (c) Continued recreational use With respect to a floating cabin located on waters under the jurisdiction of the Tennessee Valley Authority on the date of enactment of this section, the Board of Directors— (1) may not require the removal of such floating cabin— (A) in the case of a floating cabin that was granted a permit by the Tennessee Valley Authority before the date of enactment of this section, for a period of 15 years beginning on such date; and (B) in the case of a floating cabin not granted a permit by the Tennessee Valley Authority before the date of enactment of this section, for a period of 5 years beginning on such date; and (2) shall approve and allow the use of the floating cabin on waters under the jurisdiction of the Tennessee Valley Authority at such time, and for such duration, as the floating cabin meets the requirements of subsection (a) and the owner of such cabin has paid any fee levied pursuant to subsection (b). (d) Definition of floating cabin In this section, the term floating cabin means every description of watercraft or other floating structure primarily designed and used for human habitation or occupation and not primarily designed or used for navigation or transportation on water.