By Ramsay                                             H.B. No. 3198
         76R9060 JJT-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to access to a lake or pond surrounded by privately owned
 1-3     land; providing a penalty.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 12, Parks and Wildlife
 1-6     Code, is amended by adding Section 12.014 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 12.014.  LIMITATION ON ACCESS TO CERTAIN LAKES OR PONDS.
 1-8     (a)  Notwithstanding Section 1.012 of this code, the department by
 1-9     rule may restrict access to a freshwater lake or pond that is
1-10     located on private property and that is not accessible by boat or
1-11     canoe over a public river, stream, or creek unless the water level
1-12     of the river, stream, or creek is unusually high in order to:
1-13                 (1)  prevent illegal fishing or hunting activities of
1-14     persons using boats;
1-15                 (2)  prevent littering of private or public property by
1-16     persons using boats; and
1-17                 (3)  protect animal or plant species.
1-18           (b)  A person commits an offense if the person violates a
1-19     rule adopted under Subsection (a) of this section.  An offense
1-20     under this section is a Class C Parks and Wildlife Code
1-21     misdemeanor.
1-22           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-23     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-24     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-1     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-2     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
 2-3     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
 2-4     passage, and it is so enacted.