By Lewis of Orange                                    H.B. No. 2919
         77R2300 MXM-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the use of certain commercial fishing gear in the
 1-3     Sabine River between Texas and Louisiana.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 66.006, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
 1-7           (d)  This section does not apply to a person if that person
 1-8     is:
 1-9                 (1)  licensed in this state for a commercial fishing
1-10     activity;
1-11                 (2)  fishing in that part of the Sabine River between
1-12     Louisiana and Texas; and
1-13                 (3)  using a device designed to catch fish, including a
1-14     net, that is allowed under Louisiana law for a similarly situated
1-15     person licensed under Louisiana law.
1-16           SECTION 2. (a)  The change in law made by this Act applies
1-17     only to an offense or other violation committed on or after the
1-18     effective date of this Act.  For purposes of this section, an
1-19     offense or violation is committed before the effective date of this
1-20     Act if any element of the offense or violation occurs before that
1-21     date.
1-22           (b)  An offense or other violation committed before the
1-23     effective date of this Act is covered by the law in effect when the
1-24     offense or violation was committed, and the former law is continued
 2-1     in effect for that purpose.
 2-2           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 2-3     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 2-4     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
 2-5     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
 2-6     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.