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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to special open season hunting of certain migratory game |
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birds by veterans and members of the United States armed forces on |
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active duty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 61.058, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) A special open season provided for by the commission |
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under Subsection (a) may be combined with a special open season |
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provided for by the commission under Section 61.059. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Parks and Wildlife |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 61.059 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.059. HUNTING OF CERTAIN MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS BY |
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VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY ARMED FORCES MEMBERS. (a) The commission |
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may provide for special open seasons during which the taking and |
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possession of ducks, geese, mergansers, coots, moorhens, and |
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gallinules are restricted to veterans, as defined by 38 U.S.C. |
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Section 101, and members of the armed forces of the United States on |
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active duty, including members of the national guard and reserves |
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on active duty other than for training. |
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(b) A special open season provided for by the commission |
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under Subsection (a) may be combined with a special open season |
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provided for by the commission under Section 61.058. |
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(c) The commission by rule may prescribe the proof of |
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veteran or active duty status required of a person to participate in |
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a special open season under this section. |
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(d) If the commission by rule requires that a person |
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participating in a special open season under this section have in |
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the person's immediate possession proof of the person's veteran or |
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active duty status in accordance with commission rule, the rule |
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must provide that it is a defense to prosecution under that rule |
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that the person produces in court proof of the person's veteran or |
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active duty status in accordance with commission rule. |
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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. |