By Deshotel                                           H.B. No. 1596
         76R4760 MI-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to certain exemptions from hunting or fishing license fee
 1-3     requirements.
 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. The commission shall waive the
1-12     fee for:
1-13                 (1)  a resident who is under 17 years old or 65 years
1-14     old or older; and
1-15                 (2)  a qualified disabled veteran.
1-16           SECTION 2.  Sections 46.004(b) and (c), Parks and Wildlife
1-17     Code, are amended to read as follows:
1-18           (b)  The commission may establish a lower fee or waive the
1-19     fee or license requirement for:
1-20                 (1)  a resident who has a general commercial
1-21     fisherman's license of this state;
1-22                 (2)  a resident who is blind as defined by Section
1-23     94.001, Human Resources Code;
1-24                 (3)  a [resident or] nonresident who is under 17 years
 2-1     old; or
 2-2                 (4)  a [resident or] nonresident who is 65 years old or
 2-3     over.
 2-4           (c)  The commission shall waive the fee for:
 2-5                 (1)  a resident who is under 17 years old;
 2-6                 (2)  a resident who is 65 years old or older; and
 2-7                 (3)  a qualified disabled veteran as defined by Section
 2-8     42.012.
 2-9           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-10     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-11     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-12     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-13     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-14     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-15     passage, and it is so enacted.