By Grusendorf                                         H.B. No. 1956
       74R7218 PAM-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to eliminating certain mandated reports prepared by the
    1-3  Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission or the Texas Parks and Wildlife
    1-4  Department.
    1-5        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-6        SECTION 1.  Section 66.217, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
    1-7  amended to read as follows:
    1-8        Sec. 66.217.  Finfish Research.  (a)  The department shall
    1-9  conduct continuous research and study of:
   1-10              (1)  the supply, economic value, environment, and
   1-11  breeding habits of the various species of finfish, including red
   1-12  drum and speckled sea trout;
   1-13              (2)  factors affecting the increase or decrease of
   1-14  finfish supply;
   1-15              (3)  the use of trawls, nets, and other devices for the
   1-16  taking of finfish;
   1-17              (4)  the effect on finfish of industrial and other
   1-18  types of water pollution in areas naturally frequented by finfish;
   1-19  and
   1-20              (5)  statistical information gathered by the department
   1-21  on the marketing, harvesting, processing, and catching of finfish
   1-22  landed in this state.
   1-23        (b)  The department shall make findings <and issue reports>
   1-24  based on the research required by Subsection (a) of this section.
    2-1        (c)  The findings <and reports> shall be filed in the
    2-2  permanent records of the department.
    2-3        <(d)  The reports and findings must include recommendations
    2-4  for opening or closing bay areas to the use of trawls, nets, and
    2-5  saltwater trotlines when the studies indicate appropriate action to
    2-6  prevent waste or avoid depletion of finfish.>
    2-7        <(e)  Before the convening of each regular session of the
    2-8  legislature, the department shall publish and present to the
    2-9  governor and the legislature a special report on studies, findings,
   2-10  recommendations, and actions taken under this subchapter.>
   2-11        SECTION 2.  Sections 12.002, 24.010, 28.005, and 77.006,
   2-12  Parks and Wildlife Code, are repealed.
   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.