PUC H.B. 520 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS STATE RECREATIONAL RESOURCES H.B. 520 By: Woolley 2-21-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Currently, Section 47.008 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, requires a boat used for the purpose of catching menhaden to have acquired a menhaden boat license. Prior to the September 1, 1996, licensing year, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) had treated the main 165-foot menhaden vessel (the "steamer") as the menhaden boat for licensing purposes. In most cases there are two 38-foot "purse boats," which are carried on the steamer for the purpose of assisting in the catching of menhaden. These purse boats had not been licensed in the past, but recently (September 1, 1996) the law was interpreted to require that the purse boats also have menhaden boat licenses, effectively tripling the cost for menhaden operators. The Parks and Wildlife Code sets the license fee for each menhaden boat at $2,000, or an amount set by the commission, whichever is higher. The current fee for the menhaden boat license is $3,500 for each menhaden boat. The fee was increased from $2,000 to $3,500 by the Commission in 1991. PURPOSE The purpose of House Bill 520 is to distinguish between "steamers" and "purse boats" for licensing purposes and to charge and appropriate licensing fee for each. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 47.008, Parks and Wildlife Code. Sec. 47.008. MENHADEN BOAT LICENSES. (a) Adds "storing and transporting" to "catching menhaden" for activities which require a Class A menhaden boat license. (b) Requires a Class B menhaden boat license for boats used for the purpose of assisting in catching menhaden. (c) Provides that a Class A menhaden boat license is $2,000 or an amount set by the commission, whichever is more. (d) Provides that a Class B menhaden boat license is $50 or an amount set by the commission, whichever is more. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.