77R11898 YDB-D
By Wentworth S.B. No. 1194
Substitute the following for S.B. No. 1194:
By Homer C.S.S.B. No. 1194
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the protection of bats; providing a penalty.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 63, Parks and Wildlife Code,
1-5 is amended by adding Section 63.101 to read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 63.101. PROTECTION OF BATS. (a) Except as provided by
1-7 Subsections (b) and (c), no person may:
1-8 (1) hunt a bat; or
1-9 (2) sell, offer for sale, purchase, offer to purchase,
1-10 or possess after purchase a bat or any part of a bat, dead or
1-11 alive.
1-12 (b) A bat may be removed or hunted if the bat is inside or
1-13 on a building occupied by people.
1-14 (c) This section does not apply to:
1-15 (1) an animal control officer, a peace officer, or a
1-16 health official who captures a bat that the officer or official
1-17 considers injured or diseased;
1-18 (2) a person who transports a bat for the purpose of
1-19 laboratory testing if the bat has exposed or potentially exposed
1-20 humans or domestic animals to rabies; or
1-21 (3) a person who is licensed to provide pest control
1-22 services.
1-23 SECTION 2. Section 63.104(c), Parks and Wildlife Code, is
1-24 amended to read as follows:
2-1 (c) A person who violates Section 63.002 or 63.101 of this
2-2 code commits an offense that is a Class C Parks and Wildlife Code
2-3 misdemeanor.
2-4 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001, and
2-5 applies only to an act described by Section 63.101, Parks and
2-6 Wildlife Code, as added by this Act, committed on or after that
2-7 date.