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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the issuance of digital tags for the taking of certain |
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animals. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 42, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 42.0101 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 42.0101. DIGITAL TAGS. (a) The department shall |
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develop and implement a program for the issuance of digital tags for |
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animals, including birds, to holders of hunting licenses |
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authorizing the taking of those animals. |
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(b) A program developed under this section must: |
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(1) provide for the issuance of digital tags to the |
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holder of a hunting license; |
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(2) allow the holder of a hunting license to create a |
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digital record at the time of the taking of an animal that includes: |
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(A) the date and location of the taking; |
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(B) a clear photograph of the carcass of the |
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taken animal; and |
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(C) any other information required by the |
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department; and |
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(3) require the holder of a hunting license to upload |
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to the department, through a mobile application, the digital record |
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created under Subdivision (2) as soon as possible after the taking |
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of the animal. |
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(c) A person using a digital tag must retain in the person's |
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possession the digital record created under Subsection (b) at all |
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times before the carcass is finally processed. |
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(d) Unless the context requires otherwise, a reference |
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under this code to a tag includes a digital tag issued under a |
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program developed under this section. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than September 1, 2022, the Parks and |
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Wildlife Commission shall adopt rules as necessary to implement |
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Section 42.0101, Parks and Wildlife Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |