BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        H.B. 2182
                                            By: Woolley (Sponsor)
                                                          Finance
                                                         05-10-95
                              Senate Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

Current law provides that the funds deposited in the operation game
thief fund may be used for the maintenance of that fund. 
Furthermore, law requires the director to appoint an Operation Game
Thief Committee, composed of nine members, who shall serve terms of
six years to administer the benefit payments.  The committee is
required to meet at least two times each calendar year at the Parks
and Wildlife Department office in Austin and five committee members
must be present for approval of disbursement of funds from the
fund.

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 2182 amends Section 12.101, Parks and Wildlife
Code, to expand the use of funds on deposit in the operation game
thief fund; authorizes the director of the Parks and Wildlife
Department to appoint a previous member as chairperson emeritus of
the Operation Game Thief Committee; and authorizes the committee to
meet at certain times.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 12.201, Parks and Wildlife Code, to
authorize funds deposited in the operation game thief fund to be
used only for the maintenance of that fund, promotion of the
operation game thief program through advertisement and marketing,
and payment of rewards and death benefits authorized by this
Subchapter C.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 12.202, Parks and Wildlife Code, as
follows:

     (a)  Authorizes the director of the Parks and Wildlife
     Department (department) to appoint a former member of the
     Operation Game Thief Committee (committee) to serve as
     chairperson emeritus if the director determines the
     appointment is in the best interest of the operation game
     thief program.  Provides that the chairperson emeritus has the
     same rights and duties as a committee member.
     
     (b)  Provides that the term of the chairperson emeritus
     expires on a certain date.  Makes conforming changes.
     
     (c)  Sets forth meeting times and locations of the committee. 
     Provides that no action may be taken until the next meeting of
     the committee if the vote for approval of disbursements of
     rewards or death benefits results in a tie vote, except as
     provided by Subsection (d).
     
     (d)  Sets forth voting guidelines in the event of a tie vote
     of the full membership of the committee.
     
     SECTION 3.     Effective date:  September 1, 1995.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.