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House Bill 1260 |
House Author: Phelan |
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Effective: 9-1-17 |
Senate Sponsor: Creighton et al. |
House Bill 1260 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to prohibit a person from unloading or allowing to be unloaded at a port or point in Texas shrimp or other aquatic products caught or taken from the outside water or from salt water outside Texas without having been previously unloaded in some other state or foreign country unless the person has obtained a commercial gulf shrimp unloading license and a federal commercial vessel permit for gulf shrimp. The bill prescribes the fee for a commercial gulf shrimp unloading license and exempts a person who holds a valid resident or nonresident commercial gulf shrimp boat license from the requirement to hold a commercial gulf shrimp unloading license. The bill requires a vessel operating under a commercial gulf shrimp unloading license to make a nonstop progression through outside waters to a place of unloading and provides for the adoption of rules for the requirements of trawl gear storage for such a vessel. The bill includes a commercial gulf shrimp unloading license holder among the license holders from whom a wholesale fish dealer, a retail fish dealer, and a restaurant owner, operator, or employee may purchase an aquatic product. The bill subjects a commercial gulf shrimp unloading license holder to certain sale of catch restrictions.