By Saunders H.B. No. 2044 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to collection of civil restitution for illegal taking of 1-3 wildlife. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 12.303, Parks and Wildlife Code, is 1-6 amended to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 12.303. Civil Suit for Recovery of Value. (a) The 1-8 attorney general or the county attorney of the county in which the 1-9 violation occurred may bring a civil suit under this subchapter in 1-10 the name of the state to recover the value of each fish, shellfish, 1-11 reptile, amphibian, bird, or animal unlawfully killed, caught, 1-12 taken, possessed, or injured. 1-13 (b) A suit under this section shall be brought in the county 1-14 in which the violation occurred, except that the attorney general 1-15 may bring suit in Travis County. 1-16 (c) County attorneys and private attorneys who are under 1-17 contract with the department pursuant to the provisions of this 1-18 subchapter shall be exempt from prepayment of filing fees for the 1-19 bringing of any lawsuit authorized by this subchapter. The 1-20 department is required to reimburse county governments for filing 1-21 fees and costs after successful recovery of restitution. 1-22 SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 12, Parks and Wildlife 1-23 Code, is amended by adding Section 12.308 to read as follows: 2-1 Sec. 12.308. COLLECTION METHODS. (a) Notwithstanding any 2-2 other law, the department may contract with private attorneys to 2-3 facilitate the collection of civil restitution. Contracts with 2-4 attorneys solely for collections shall not be subject to review or 2-5 oversight by the attorney general. 2-6 (b) The department may by contract agree to pay a percentage 2-7 of the total amount collected under a contract to the collector as 2-8 a fee for the collections. 2-9 (c) A private attorney who collects restitution pursuant to 2-10 a contract with the department may bring a civil lawsuit in any 2-11 court of competent jurisdiction in the state in the name of the 2-12 State of Texas in furtherance of collections. 2-13 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-14 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-15 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-16 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-17 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-18 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-19 passage, and it is so enacted.