|
Senate Bill 1480 |
Senate Author: Hegar |
|
Effective: 6-17-11 |
House Sponsor: Darby |
Previous law required the Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to publish a list of exotic aquatic plants approved for import into or possession in Texas without a permit. Senate Bill 1480 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to repeal that law and related provisions, requires the Parks and Wildlife Commission by rule to adopt a list of exotic aquatic plants that are prohibited from being imported into or possessed in Texas without a permit, and provides for the transition from the list of approved plants to the list of prohibited plants. The bill prohibits a person from importing, possessing, selling, or placing into the public water of Texas an exotic harmful or potentially harmful aquatic plant except as authorized by commission rule or by a permit issued by TPWD. It requires the commission to adopt rules to implement the bill's provisions and authorizes the commission to enact an emergency rule to add an exotic aquatic plant to the list of prohibited plants if the plant is determined to be harmful or potentially harmful.
Senate Bill 1480 requires TPWD to consult with the Department of Agriculture as necessary to administer the bill's provisions relating to the regulation of exotic harmful or potentially harmful aquatic plants and exempts certain microalgae from such regulation. The bill establishes penalties for an offense relating to exotic harmful or potentially harmful aquatic plants and reduces the penalties for an offense relating to exotic harmful or potentially harmful fish and shellfish.