BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1699
87R15690 MP-D	By: Raney (Buckingham)
	Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs
	4/27/2021
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Unnecessary requirements exist for individuals hunting birds on private property that can provide disincentives to those interested in hunting. H.B. 1699 seeks to address this issue by amending the Parks and Wildlife Code to allow a person to hunt unbanded pen-�reared quail or pheasant on his or her property. The bill would not allow a property owner to exceed a bag limit or to take quail or pheasant during a closed season.

H.B. 1699 amends current law relating to the taking of unbanded pen-reared pheasant and quail by certain landowners.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 42, Parks and Wildlife Code, by adding Section 42.0211, as follows:

Sec. 42.0211. TAKING OF UNBANDED PEN‑REARED PHEASANT OR QUAIL BY CERTAIN LANDOWNERS. (a) Provides that this section applies only to noncommercial activity and the taking of pheasant or quail on a property of at least five contiguous acres.

(b) Authorizes a person, or the person's guest when accompanied by the person, notwithstanding any other law requiring the banding of a bird, to take on the person's property unbanded pen-reared pheasant or quail.

(c) Provides that nothing in this section affects the requirement to acquire a license under Section 45.001 (License Required) for the propagation of game birds, or authorizes a person to exceed a bag limit for pheasant or quail or take pheasant or quail during a closed season.

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2021. �