1-1 By: Grusendorf (Senate Sponsor - Nixon) H.B. No. 1956
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 15, 1995;
1-3 May 17, 1995, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural
1-4 Resources; May 19, 1995, reported favorably by the following vote:
1-5 Yeas 10, Nays 0; May 19, 1995, sent to printer.)
1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-7 AN ACT
1-8 relating to eliminating certain mandated reports prepared by the
1-9 Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission or the Texas Parks and Wildlife
1-10 Department.
1-11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-12 SECTION 1. Section 66.217, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
1-13 amended to read as follows:
1-14 Sec. 66.217. Finfish Research. (a) The department shall
1-15 conduct continuous research and study of:
1-16 (1) the supply, economic value, environment, and
1-17 breeding habits of the various species of finfish, including red
1-18 drum and speckled sea trout;
1-19 (2) factors affecting the increase or decrease of
1-20 finfish supply;
1-21 (3) the use of trawls, nets, and other devices for the
1-22 taking of finfish;
1-23 (4) the effect on finfish of industrial and other
1-24 types of water pollution in areas naturally frequented by finfish;
1-25 and
1-26 (5) statistical information gathered by the department
1-27 on the marketing, harvesting, processing, and catching of finfish
1-28 landed in this state.
1-29 (b) The department shall make findings <and issue reports>
1-30 based on the research required by Subsection (a) of this section.
1-31 (c) The findings <and reports> shall be filed in the
1-32 permanent records of the department.
1-33 <(d) The reports and findings must include recommendations
1-34 for opening or closing bay areas to the use of trawls, nets, and
1-35 saltwater trotlines when the studies indicate appropriate action to
1-36 prevent waste or avoid depletion of finfish.>
1-37 <(e) Before the convening of each regular session of the
1-38 legislature, the department shall publish and present to the
1-39 governor and the legislature a special report on studies, findings,
1-40 recommendations, and actions taken under this subchapter.>
1-41 SECTION 2. Sections 12.002, 24.010, 28.005, and 77.006,
1-42 Parks and Wildlife Code, are repealed.
1-43 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
1-44 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-45 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-46 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-47 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
1-48 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
1-49 passage, and it is so enacted.
1-50 * * * * *