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House Bill 3391 |
House Author: Harper-Brown et al. |
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Effective: 9-1-09 |
Senate Sponsor: Hegar |
House Bill 3391 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to continue the Parks and Wildlife Department until September 1, 2021. In addition to across-the-board sunset provisions, the bill requires the executive director of the department to establish an internal affairs office with original departmental jurisdiction over all investigations of alleged criminal conduct committed by department employees or on department property and specifies the duties of the office. The bill expands the types of funds authorized to be deposited into the state parks account, Texas recreation and parks account, and large county and municipality recreation and parks account to include private contributions, grants, donations, and federal funds and specifies the authorized uses of such funds. The bill sets forth requirements for state agencies to follow in responding to department recommendations or informational comment regarding fish and wildlife resource protection, expands the situations under which the Parks and Wildlife Commission is authorized to adopt emergency rules, and extends this authority to the executive director of the department.
House Bill 3391 expands the list of inedible parts of certain game animals that are exempt from the prohibition against the sale of certain protected game, adds pigeons to the definition of "pen-reared birds" for purposes of private bird hunting areas, and clarifies that the lawful killing of European starlings, English sparrows, and feral rock doves does not constitute an offense of disorderly conduct.
House Bill 3391 requires the department to publish a list of exotic aquatic plants approved for importation or possession without a permit, rather than a list of aquatic plants that require a permit, provides guidelines for adopting rules that relate to exotic aquatic plants, and specifies requirements and procedures for compiling and administering the approved list of exotic aquatic plants and issuing exotic species permits. The bill authorizes the commission to enter into the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact on behalf of Texas. The bill requires the department and the Texas Youth Commission to jointly seek representation by the attorney general to pursue modification of the Parrie Haynes Trust thereby transferring control of the Parrie Haynes Ranch to the department, designating the department as the responsible agent for the trust, and expanding the purpose of the trust to benefit disadvantaged and other Texas youths.