1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to menhaden boat licenses.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 47.008, Parks and Wildlife Code, is

 1-5     amended to read as follows:

 1-6           Sec. 47.008. MENHADEN BOAT LICENSES [LICENSE].  (a)  A boat

 1-7     may not be used for the purpose of catching, storing, and

 1-8     transporting  menhaden in tidal water unless the owner of the boat

 1-9     has acquired a Class A menhaden boat license.

1-10           (b)  A boat may not be used for the purpose of assisting in

1-11     catching menhaden in tidal water unless the owner of the boat has

1-12     acquired a Class B menhaden boat license.

1-13           (c)  The license fee for each Class A menhaden boat is $2,000

1-14     or an amount set by the commission, whichever amount is more, for

1-15     each yearly period.

1-16           (d)  The commission shall set the license fee for each Class

1-17     B menhaden boat for each yearly period in an amount not to exceed

1-18     $50.

1-19           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-20           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-21     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-22     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-23     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-24     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 520 was passed by the House on March

         11, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 520 was passed by the Senate on April

         17, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor