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.
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