SRC-TJG S.B. 3 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 3
78R11660 LJR-DBy: Armbrister
Natural Resources
5/2/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, some native deer are confined by private landowners behind high
fences.  These high fences represent a "special" management situation
which is not dealt with through Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)
regulations.  As proposed, S.B. 3 authorizes the TPWD to take certain
actions under wildlife management plans relating to the management of deer
and land with deer populations.  This bill also provides that  the general
laws and regulations of this state applicable to white-tailed deer do not
apply to deer on the acreage covered by the permit, except as expressly
provided by this subchapter and the terms and conditions of the permit and
management plan. 


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 42.018(g), Parks and Wildlife Code, to
authorize the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), under a wildlife
management plan approved by TPWD, to issue to a landowner a managed lands
deer permit, provide for different management activities under dirrerent
permitted levels, and establish different fees for the different levels of
permits. Provides that the greater freedom given the landowner in managing
deer populations under the applicable permit level, the greater the amount
of the fee TPWD shall establish for the permit. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 43.603(c), Parks and Wildlife Code, to
authorize TPWD to establish various levels of permits to be issued under
this subchapter, determine the activities permitted under the respective
levels, and establish different fees for the various levels.  Deletes
existing text relating to requiring TPWD to set a fee for the issuance or
renewal of a permit in an amount not to exceed $1,000. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 43.606, Parks and Wildlife Code, to provide
that the general laws and regulations of this state applicable to
white-tailed deer do not apply to deer on the acreage covered by the
permit, except as expressly provided by this subchapter and the terms and
conditions of the permit and management plan. 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 2003.