Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E. Line and page numbers may not match official copy. By Kuempel H.B. No. 2953 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to duties of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Amend Chapter 13, Subchapter A, Parks and 1-5 Wildlife Code, by adding a new section to read as follows: 1-6 Sec. 13.023. DISPUTES. (a) Disputes arising between a 1-7 dealer and manufacturer described in Chapter 31 of this code may be 1-8 referred to the department. The department will designate an 1-9 arbitrator to determine by a preponderance of the evidence, at a 1-10 hearing held by the arbitrator, a resolution to the dispute. The 1-11 arbitrator shall be a resident of this state and licensed to 1-12 practice law in this state and have no interest in the outcome of 1-13 the proceeding. The department shall make the appointment within 1-14 30 days after receipt of the protest. The arbitration shall be 1-15 conducted in the following 90 days pursuant to Section 1781.001, 1-16 Civil Practice and Remedies Code following the rules of evidence 1-17 called for in Section 2001.081, Government Code. The parties shall 1-18 share equally the cost of the arbitrator and of the proceeding. 1-19 Each party shall pay for its own attorneys and experts. The 1-20 parties shall be bound by the decision of the arbitrator without an 1-21 appeal. 1-22 (b) The department is authorized to charge parties 1-23 instituting actions under this section filing fees in amounts 1-24 adequate to defray all department expenses in the administration of 2-1 this section. 2-2 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 2-3 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-4 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-5 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-6 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.