BILL ANALYSIS



H.B. 1956
By: Grusendorf
April 5, 1995
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

During its 1994 review of state agency reports mandated by the
Legislature, the House Committee on Agriculture and Wildlife
Management learned that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
(TPWD) is required to prepare and file a burdensome quantity of
reports for the legislative and executive branches of state
government.  The Committee found that TPWD employees invest many
hours in completing required reports that often contain information
that is not utilized.  The Committee recommended the elimination of
the following TPWD reports containing accessible, unnecessary or
duplicate information:

     Saltwater Finfish Research Report.  This report was initiated
when the Legislature was      more directly involved in the
management of the state's coastal finfish resources.

     Condition of the Fish and Oyster Industry Report.  These
records are currently maintained   on a continuous basis. 
Regulatory authority over all fisheries has been transferred from     the Legislature to TPWD since 1975 when this report was
mandated.

     Texas Recreation and Parks Account Report.  The department's
account is already  reviewed during the appropriation process and
current fund balances can be obtained from   the Comptroller of
Public Accounts.

     Status of the Texas Trail System Report.  This report is
actually a compilation of trail    related activities.  The
information generates little legislative interest and is available
upon       request.

     Shrimp Research Program/Mandatory Shrimp Harvest Reports. 
These reports were  necessary prior to 1985 when the Legislature
managed the state's shrimp resources.   Although the Shrimp
Advisory Committee and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission   may use such findings, the Legislature and Governor do not.

PURPOSE

H.B. 1956 would abolish the following Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department reports:  the Saltwater Finfish Research Report,
Condition of the Fish and Oyster Industry Report, Texas Recreation
and Parks Account Report, Status of the Texas Trail System Report
and the Shrimp Research Program/Mandatory Shrimp Harvest Reports.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly
grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer,
department, agency or institution.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1:  Amends Chapter 66.217, Parks and Wildlife Code, by
deleting subsections (d) and (e) and all references to reports that
occur in subsections (b) and (c).   This will require TPWD to keep
findings of its ongoing finfish research, but does not require the
department to compile its findings into a report, or file such a
report with the governor and legislature.


SECTION 2:  Repeals Sections 12.002, 24.010, 28.005, and 77.006,
Parks and Wildlife Code.  Results in the elimination of the
following mandatory reports:

     Section 12.002.  Condition of the Fish and Oyster Industry
Report (annual).

     Section 24.010.  Texas Recreation and Parks Account Report
(annual).

     Section 28.005.  Status of the Texas Trail System Report
(biennial).

     Section 77.006.  Shrimp Research Program/Mandatory Shrimp
Harvest Reports (biennial).

SECTION 3:  Emergency clause, effective upon passage.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

H.B. 1956 was considered by the Committee on State Recreational
Resources in a public hearing on April 5, 1995.

The following persons testified neutrally on the bill:

     Hal Osburn representing Texas Parks and Wildlife; and
     Jim Riggs representing Texas Parks and Wildlife.

The following person testified against the bill:

     Jim Sagnes representing Texas Shrimp Association.

The bill was reported favorably without amendment, with the
recommendation that it do pass and be printed, by a record vote of
9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, 0 absent.