SRC-TAG S.B. 608 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 608
By: Janek
Natural Resources
7/1/2003
Enrolled
DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, states bordering Texas have a higher fee for nonresident
fishing guide licenses, than does Texas.  S.B. 608 authorizes  the Texas
Parks and Wildlife Commission to create a nonresident fishing guide
license as well as to create separate coastal and inland resident or
nonresident guide licenses. This bill makes out-of-state fishing guide
licenses in Texas corollary to those of surrounding states.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Parks and Wildlife
commission in SECTION 3 (Section 47.005, Parks and Wildlife Code) of this
bill. 

Rulemaking authority previously granted to the Texas Parks and Wildlife
commission is modified in SECTION 2 (Section 47.004, Parks and Wildlife
Code) of this bill.  

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 47.001(6), Parks and Wildlife Code, to redefine
"fishing guide." 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 47.004, Parks and Wildlife Code, as follows:

Sec. 47.004.  New heading: RESIDENT FISHING GUIDE LICENSE.  (a)  Prohibits
a resident, rather than a person, from engaging in business as a fishing
guide unless the resident, rather than the person, has obtained a resident
fishing guide license. 

(b)  Redesignated from existing Subsection (c).  Authorizes the Parks and
Wildlife Commission (commission) to adopt rules governing the issuance and
use of resident fishing guide license, including rules creating separate
resident fishing guide licenses for use in saltwater and freshwater.
Deletes text of existing Subsection (b)  providing that the license fee
for a fishing guide license is $50 or an amount set by the commission. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 47, Parks and Wildlife Code, by
adding Section 47.005, as follows: 

Sec.  47.005.  NONRESIDENT FISHING GUIDE LICENSE.  (a) Prohibits a
nonresident from engaging in business as a  fishing guide unless the
nonresident has obtained a nonresident fishing guide license. 

(b) Authorizes the commission to adopt rules governing the issuance and
use of a nonresident fishing guide license, including rules creating
separate nonresident fishing guide licenses for use in saltwater and
freshwater. 
  
SECTION 4.  Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 47, Parks and Wildlife Code, by
adding Section 47.006, as follows: 

Sec.  47.006.  LICENSE FEES.  Provides that the license fee for resident,
nonresident, freshwater and saltwater guides is $75 or an amount for each
guide type set separately by the  commission, whichever is more. 

SECTION 5.  Effective date: September 1, 2003.