SRC-LBB, TAG, MSY S.B. 236 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 236 By: Fraser Natural Resource Committee 8/14/2003 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, Texas requires a landowner to have a hunting license to hunt a feral hog on the landowner's property. This requirement prohibits landowners from controlling the feral hogs that prey on lambs, fawns, quail and turkey nesting grounds, and destroy field crops. S.B. 236 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to exempt landowners and contract managers from the requirement of having a hunting license to hunt a feral hog on the landowner's property. 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 the heading to Section 42.002, Parks and Wildlife Code, to read as follows: Sec. 42.002. RESIDENT LICENSE REQUIRED; EXEMPTION. SECTION 2. Amends Section 42.002, Parks and Wildlife Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c), as follows: (a) Provides that Subsection (c), as added by this Act, is an exception to the rule that no resident may hunt any bird or animal in this state without a hunting license. Makes conforming changes. (c) Authorizes a resident landowner or the landowner's agent or lessee to take feral hogs causing depredation on the resident landowner's land without having acquired a hunting license. SECTION 3. Amends Section 42.005, Parks and Wildlife Code, by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (f), as follows: (b) Provides an exception. (f) Authorizes a nonresident landowner or the landowner's agent or lessee to take feral hogs causing depredation on the nonresident landowner's land without having acquired a hunting license required by this chapter. SECTION 4. Amends Subchapter H, Chapter 43, Parks and Wildlife Code, by adding Section 43.158, as follows: Sec. 43.158. LANDOWNER PERMIT EXEMPTION. Provides that nothing in this subchapter prevents a landowner or the landowner's agent or lessee from taking depredating feral hogs on the landowner's land without having acquired a permit under this subchapter. SECTION 5. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.