BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1631

By: Guerra

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding the application process for a permit to manage wildlife and exotic animals from an aircraft. The current application process, which is administered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), requires landowners to map their land in a relatively complicated electronic mapping system. However, many landowners do not have the time or technical expertise to submit the requisite information or use the mapping system correctly. H.B. 1631 seeks to simplify this application procedure by allowing TPWD to map the applicant's land in the online system for a fee at the applicant's request.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Parks and Wildlife Commission in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1631 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to require an applicant for a permit for the management of wildlife and exotic animals by the use of aircraft to submit the following with the application:

· either:

o a georeferenced map, as defined by the bill, in a format prescribed by the Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) showing the exact boundaries of the property where the management of wildlife or exotic animals is to be performed; or

o a map in a format prescribed by TPWD clearly indicating the location and boundaries of the property where the management of wildlife or exotic animals is to be performed and a fee established by the Parks and Wildlife Commission by rule to cover the cost of converting the map to a georeferenced map; and

· a signed, written statement stating that the provided map or georeferenced map is true and correct.

The bill requires TPWD to maintain a record of all submitted maps and prohibits TPWD from requiring an applicant to submit a map of a property for which a map has previously been submitted.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.