By:  Maxey                                            H.B. No. 2805
       73R5050 MI-F
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to hunting in state parks.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Section 62.062, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
    1-5  amended to read as follows:
    1-6        Sec. 62.062.  SEASON.  (a)  The <As sound biological
    1-7  management practices warrant, the> commission may prescribe an open
    1-8  season for hunting in state parks, forts, or sites where size,
    1-9  location, and other physical conditions permit hunting.
   1-10        (b)  The commission may prescribe an open season for the
   1-11  hunting of a feral or wild exotic species in a state park or state
   1-12  natural area as appropriate to control the population of the
   1-13  species or maintain habitat for all species.  The commission may
   1-14  prescribe an open season for the hunting of a wild native species
   1-15  in a state park or state natural area only if:
   1-16              (1)  the population of the species has exceeded the
   1-17  support capacity of the species' habitat in the park or natural
   1-18  area to the extent that reducing the population of the species is
   1-19  necessary to avoid permanent damage to the species or other native
   1-20  species in the park or area or to native wildlife habitat of the
   1-21  park or area; and
   1-22              (2)  the open season:
   1-23                    (A)  is the most effective way to reduce the
   1-24  population of the species; and
    2-1                    (B)  will have no harmful effect on other native
    2-2  species.
    2-3        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-4  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-5  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-6  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-7  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
    2-8  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
    2-9  passage, and it is so enacted.