By:  Galloway                                         S.B. No. 1543

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

                                       AN ACT

 1-1     relating to the authority of a county to charge fees for the

 1-2     regulation of wild animals.

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

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 240, Local Government Code,

 1-5     is amended by adding Section 240.005 to read as follows:

 1-6           Sec. 240.005.  FEES.  (a)  The commissioners court of a

 1-7     county by order may establish a reasonable fee to cover the costs

 1-8     associated with regulating the keeping of a wild animal under this

 1-9     chapter.

1-10           (b)  A fee established under this section may be collected

1-11     only from the person who keeps a wild animal regulated under this

1-12     subchapter.

1-13           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-14     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-15     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-16     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-17     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

1-18     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

1-19     passage, and it is so enacted.