By Woolley H.B. No. 2182
74R7033 PAM-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to use of funds in the operation game thief fund and
1-3 membership of the Operation Game Thief Committee.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 12.201, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
1-6 amended to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 12.201. Creation of Fund. The department may accept
1-8 and deposit in a special fund outside the state treasury, called
1-9 the operation game thief fund, donations from any person made for
1-10 purposes of this subchapter. Funds deposited in the operation game
1-11 thief fund may be used only for the maintenance of that fund,
1-12 promotion of the operation game thief program through advertisement
1-13 and marketing, and payment of rewards and death benefits authorized
1-14 by this subchapter. The Operation Game Thief Committee shall adopt
1-15 rules for the implementation of the operation game thief program
1-16 and maintenance of the operation game thief fund.
1-17 SECTION 2. Section 12.202, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
1-18 amended to read as follows:
1-19 Sec. 12.202. Operation Game Thief Committee. (a) The
1-20 director shall appoint an Operation Game Thief Committee composed
1-21 of nine members to administer the operation game thief fund and to
1-22 make reward payments and death benefit payments from that fund.
1-23 The director shall appoint persons who are not employees of the
1-24 department and who have a demonstrated interest in game and fish
2-1 conservation. The director may consider the recommendations or
2-2 nominations of any club or association. The director shall
2-3 designate one of the members as chairman of the committee. The
2-4 director may appoint a former committee member to serve as chairman
2-5 emeritus if the director determines the appointment is in the best
2-6 interest of the operation game thief program. The chairman
2-7 emeritus has the same rights and duties as a committee member. The
2-8 director or an employee designated by the director for that purpose
2-9 shall serve as secretary to the committee. A member of the
2-10 committee serves without compensation.
2-11 (b) Each member of the committee, including the chairman
2-12 emeritus, serves a term of six years. The terms of one-third of
2-13 the members, excluding the chairman emeritus, expire on January 31
2-14 of each odd-numbered year. The term of the chairman emeritus
2-15 expires on the date of the sixth anniversary after the day the
2-16 chairman emeritus is appointed. The director may reappoint
2-17 members.
2-18 (c) The committee shall meet at least one time <two times>
2-19 each calendar year at the department's office in Austin or at a
2-20 location designated by the chairman of the committee. Four <Five>
2-21 committee members must be present for approval of disbursement of
2-22 rewards to eligible applicants and death benefit payments to
2-23 eligible recipients. Except as provided by Subsection (d), if the
2-24 vote for approval of disbursements of rewards or death benefits
2-25 results in a tie vote, no action may be taken until the next
2-26 meeting of the committee.
2-27 (d) If the vote of the full membership of the committee,
3-1 including a chairman emeritus, results in a tie vote, the chairman
3-2 of the committee may vote a second time to break the tie.
3-3 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
3-4 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
3-5 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-6 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-7 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-8 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.