By Bailey                                             H.B. No. 2068
         77R1110 SMJ-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to fees for the regulation of wild animals in certain
 1-3     counties.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 240, Local Government Code,
 1-6     is amended by adding Section 240.005 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 240.005.  PERMITTED FEES IN POPULOUS COUNTIES. (a)  This
 1-8     section applies only to a county with a population of more than 2.8
 1-9     million.
1-10           (b)  The commissioners court of a county by order may
1-11     establish an annual fee for each wild animal regulated under this
1-12     subchapter in an amount designed to recover the costs associated
1-13     with that regulation.  The total annual fee imposed under this
1-14     subsection may not exceed $500 for each person who keeps a wild
1-15     animal, regardless of the number of wild animals the person keeps.
1-16           (c)  In addition to the fee imposed under Subsection (b), the
1-17     commissioners court may establish a fee to recover the cost of an
1-18     action taken under this subchapter to seize or board a wild animal
1-19     being kept in violation of an order adopted under this subchapter.
1-20     The fee may not exceed the amount reasonably necessary to recover
1-21     the cost of seizing and boarding the wild animal.
1-22           SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.