BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1984

By: Vasut

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Texas law currently permits special youth hunting seasons for persons under 17 years of age. However, many current youth hunting seasons are limited to only two weekend days. C.S.H.B. 1984 would extend the minimum duration of certain special youth hunting seasons to at least seven consecutive days to provide more time for parents, grandparents, and other family members to expose youth to responsible hunting and the great Texas outdoors outside of the regular season.

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 2 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1984 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to set at seven consecutive days the minimum duration of a special open season that may be provided by the Parks and Wildlife Commission during which the taking and possession of game animals and game birds are restricted to persons under 17 years old. The bill requires the commission to adopt or amend rules as necessary to comply with this provision. The seven consecutive day minimum duration under the bill does not apply to a special open season for migratory game birds or waterfowl.

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. 1984 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 not in the original that makes the minimum duration of seven consecutive days for the special open season restricted to persons under 17 years old inapplicable to a special open season for migratory game birds or waterfowl.