BWH C.S.S.B. 1543 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


COUNTY AFFAIRS
C.S.S.B. 1543
By: Galloway, Michael (Woolley)
5-20-97
Committee Report (Substituted)


BACKGROUND 

Currently, the regulation of some wild animals by the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department will be removed, effective September 1, 1997.
Although some counties may anticipate picking up much of this regulatory
authority, counties are not given the statutory authority to charge fees
for this type of regulation.  This bill allows the commissioners courts of
counties to collect fees to cover the cost of regulating the keeping of
wild animals.  

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.S.B. 1543 allows the commissioners courts of counties to
collect fees to cover the cost of regulating the keeping of wild animals.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to a county commissioners court in SECTION
1 (Section 240.005, Education Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 240A, Local Government Code, by adding Section
240.005, as follows: 

Sec. 240.005. FEES.   Authorizes a commissioners court of a county, by
order, to establish a reasonable fee to cover the costs associated with
regulating the keeping of a wild animal under this chapter.  Authorizes a
fee to be collected only from the person who keeps a wild animal regulated
under this subchapter.  Limits the fee to $35 per wild animal, not to
exceed $500, regardless of the number of wild animals. 

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.S.B. 1543 adds Subsection (c) to proposed Section 240.005, Local
Government Code, to limit the fee established under this section to $35
for each wild animal and to $500 total, regardless of the number of wild
animals.