BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1781

By: Krause

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding the lack of access to a recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting in which rules were adopted to outlaw deer breeding through cloning. Given that the meeting was held remotely, many deer breeders were unable to voice their concerns about the rule due to poor access to broadband connections in rural areas of the state. In response to the situation, there have been calls for the legislature to decide which methods of deer breeding should be legal in Texas, as it is considered the branch of government tied closest to the citizens of Texas. H.B. 1781 seeks to address this issue by authorizing deer cloning as an acceptable method of deer breeding.

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. 1781 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to specify that engaging in the business of breeding breeder deer, for purposes of a deer breeder's permit, includes the propagation of breeder deer by cloning. The bill authorizes the Parks and Wildlife Commission to make regulations governing this propagation.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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