75R5443 MI-D                           

         By Turner of Coleman                                   H.B. No. 827

         Substitute the following for H.B. No. 827:

         By Kuempel                                         C.S.H.B. No. 827

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to hunting and fishing licenses for certain disabled

 1-3     veterans.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 42.012(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, is

 1-6     amended to read as follows:

 1-7           (b)  The commission may set a lower fee or waive the fee or

 1-8     license requirement for a resident who is under 17 years old, 65

 1-9     years old or older, or participating in an event that is sponsored

1-10     or co-sponsored by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department with the

1-11     approval of the executive director[, or a qualified disabled

1-12     veteran].  The commission shall waive the fee for a qualified

1-13     disabled veteran.

1-14           SECTION 2.  Section 46.004, Parks and Wildlife Code, is

1-15     amended by amending Subsection (b), adding a new Subsection (c),

1-16     and relettering existing Subsections (c)-(e) to read as follows:

1-17           (b)  The commission may establish a lower fee or waive the

1-18     fee or license requirement for:

1-19                 (1)  a resident who has a general commercial

1-20     fisherman's license of this state;

1-21                 (2)  a resident who is blind as defined by Section

1-22     94.001, Human Resources Code;

1-23                 (3)  [a resident who is a qualified disabled veteran as

1-24     defined by Section 42.012(c) of this code;]

 2-1                 [(4)]  a resident or nonresident who is under 17 years

 2-2     old; or

 2-3                 (4) [(5)]  a resident or nonresident who is 65 years

 2-4     old or over.

 2-5           (c)  The commission shall waive the fee for a qualified

 2-6     disabled veteran as defined by Section 42.012.

 2-7           (d)  The department may issue a lifetime resident fishing

 2-8     license to residents of this state.  The fee for this license is

 2-9     $300 or an amount set by the commission, whichever amount is more.

2-10           (e) [(d)]  The nonresident fishing license fee is $15 or an

2-11     amount set by the commission, whichever amount is more.

2-12           (f) [(e)]  The commission may establish collection and

2-13     issuance fees for licenses and tags issued under this chapter.

2-14           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

2-15           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-16     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-17     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-18     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-19     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.