SRC-JLB S.B. 607 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 607
78R4059 SGA-DBy: Janek
Natural Resources
3/3/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

S.B. 1410, passed during the 77th Legislature, allows a seven-day grace
period before a crab trap may be designated abandoned after the crabbing
season ends.  The crab advisory committee and other industry members have
asked that this time frame be removed and that the traps be deemed litter
on the first day of the closure.  If the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department adopts the minimum number of closure days, a two-weekend
cleanup period for abandoned traps will still exist.  As proposed, S.B.
607 eliminates the seven-day grace period, so traps would immediately be
designated as abandoned. 

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 78.115(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, to redefine
"abandoned crab trap." 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.