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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to partnerships between the Texas Parks and Wildlife |
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Department and nonprofit entities to promote hunting and fishing by |
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certain veterans. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter J, Chapter 11, Parks and Wildlife |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 11.208 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 11.208. PARTNERSHIP WITH NONPROFIT SERVING VETERANS. |
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(a) In this section, "veteran" means a person who has served in the |
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United States armed forces. |
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(b) The department may select and cooperate with one or more |
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nonprofit partners that exclusively serve veterans to promote |
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hunting and fishing by those veterans. A selection under this |
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section must be approved by the commission. |
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(c) A veteran who is a resident of this state and who is |
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served by a nonprofit selected under Subsection (b) may: |
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(1) hunt on one day without holding a hunting license |
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required under Chapter 42 if accompanied by a representative of the |
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nonprofit partner who holds the appropriate license; and |
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(2) fish on one day without holding a fishing license |
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required under Chapter 46 if accompanied by a representative of the |
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nonprofit partner who holds the appropriate license. |
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(d) The commission by rule shall establish: |
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(1) criteria under which the department may select a |
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nonprofit partner under this section; and |
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(2) guidelines under which a representative of or a |
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veteran served by a nonprofit partner may engage in hunting or |
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fishing activities under this section. |
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SECTION 2. The heading to Section 42.002, Parks and |
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Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 42.002. RESIDENT LICENSE REQUIRED; EXEMPTIONS |
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[EXEMPTION]. |
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SECTION 3. Section 42.002, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsections (b), [and] (c), and |
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(d) [of this section], no resident may hunt any bird or animal in |
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this state without having acquired a hunting license. |
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(d) A person who is a resident and who is a veteran of the |
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United States armed forces is not required to have a license issued |
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under this section if the person is acting under Section 11.208 and |
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complying with rules adopted under that section. |
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SECTION 4. Section 46.002(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A license issued under this chapter is not required of a |
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person: |
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(1) who is a resident and whose birth date is before |
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January 1, 1931; |
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(2) who is a nonresident, if the person's birth date is |
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before September 1, 1930, and the person's state of residence |
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grants a similar age exemption to Texas residents; |
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(3) who is mentally disabled and who is engaging in |
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recreational fishing as part of medically approved therapy, and who |
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is fishing under the immediate supervision of personnel approved or |
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employed by a hospital, residence, or school for mentally disabled |
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persons; |
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(4) who is mentally retarded and is engaged in |
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recreational fishing under the immediate supervision of a person |
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who: |
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(A) holds a license issued under this chapter; |
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and |
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(B) has the permission of the mentally retarded |
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person's family head or legal guardian to take the mentally |
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retarded person fishing if the person is not a member of the family |
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of the mentally retarded person; [or] |
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(5) who is participating in an event that is sponsored |
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or co-sponsored by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department with the |
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approval of the Executive Director; or |
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(6) who is a resident and who is a veteran of the |
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United States armed forces, if the person is acting under Section |
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11.208 and complying with rules adopted under that section. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |