By Turner of Coleman                             H.B. No. 827

      75R4754 MI-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

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

 1-3     veterans and certain military personnel.

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

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 42, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended

 1-6     by adding Section 42.009 to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 42.009.  EXCEPTION:  CERTAIN ARMED SERVICES MEMBERS.

 1-8     (a)  A nonresident who is a member of the armed services qualifies

 1-9     for a resident hunting license if the member is on active duty for

1-10     more than 30 days at a federal facility or installation in this

1-11     state.  A person who acquires a resident hunting license under the

1-12     qualification authorized by this section is not subject to Section

1-13     42.005.

1-14           (b)  Adequate proof of length of duty assignment may be

1-15     required from each license applicant, and the validity of the

1-16     license is contingent on the applicant's proof, either by

1-17     certification on the license or by use of a separate form issued by

1-18     the department.

1-19           SECTION 2.  Section 42.012(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, is

1-20     amended to read as follows:

1-21           (b)  The commission may set a lower fee or waive the fee or

1-22     license requirement for a resident who is under 17 years old, 65

1-23     years old or older, or participating in an event that is sponsored

1-24     or co-sponsored by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department with the

 2-1     approval of the executive director[, or a qualified disabled

 2-2     veteran].  The commission shall waive the fee for a qualified

 2-3     disabled veteran.

 2-4           SECTION 3.  Section 46.004, Parks and Wildlife Code, is

 2-5     amended by amending Subsection (b), adding a new Subsection (c),

 2-6     and relettering existing Subsections (c)-(e) to read as follows:

 2-7           (b)  The commission may establish a lower fee or waive the

 2-8     fee or license requirement for:

 2-9                 (1)  a resident who has a general commercial

2-10     fisherman's license of this state;

2-11                 (2)  a resident who is blind as defined by Section

2-12     94.001, Human Resources Code;

2-13                 (3)  [a resident who is a qualified disabled veteran as

2-14     defined by Section 42.012(c) of this code;]

2-15                 [(4)]  a resident or nonresident who is under 17 years

2-16     old; or

2-17                 (4) [(5)]  a resident or nonresident who is 65 years

2-18     old or over.

2-19           (c)  The commission shall waive the fee for a qualified

2-20     disabled veteran as defined by Section 42.012.

2-21           (d)  The department may issue a lifetime resident fishing

2-22     license to residents of this state.  The fee for this license is

2-23     $300 or an amount set by the commission, whichever amount is more.

2-24           (e) [(d)]  The nonresident fishing license fee is $15 or an

2-25     amount set by the commission, whichever amount is more.

2-26           (f) [(e)]  The commission may establish collection and

2-27     issuance fees for licenses and tags issued under this chapter.

 3-1           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

 3-2           SECTION 5.  The importance of this legislation and the

 3-3     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 3-4     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 3-5     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 3-6     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.