BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1699

By: Raney

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Texans are being encouraged to take part in more outdoor activities, which allows family and friends to spend time together while still preventing the spread of COVID-19. With the proper licensing and training, hunting is a great outdoor activity for people to enjoy from a safe distance. However, unnecessary requirements that exist for individuals hunting birds on private property may provide disincentives to those interested in hunting. C.S.H.B. 1699 seeks to address the issue by authorizing the hunting and taking of unbanded pen-reared pheasant or quail on private property.

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

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1699 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to authorize a person, or the person's guest when accompanied by the person, to take on the person's property unbanded pen-reared pheasant or quail. This authorization does not affect the requirement to acquire a game bird breeder's license for the propagation of game birds nor does it authorize a person to do the following:

· exceed a bag limit for pheasant or quail; or

· take pheasant or quail during a closed season.

The bill applies only to noncommercial activity and the taking of pheasant or quail on a property of at least five contiguous acres.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 1699 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute includes a provision establishing that a person is not authorized under the bill's provisions to exceed a bag limit for pheasant or quail or to take a pheasant or quail during a closed season.