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


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 608
By: Janek
Natural Resources
3/17/2003
Committee Report (Substituted)

DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, states bordering Texas have a higher fee for nonresident
fishing guide licenses, than does Texas.  C.S.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. 

(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.  

SECTION 3.  Amends Chapter 47A, 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 Chapter 47A, 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. 





SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES
       
SECTION 2.  Differs from original bill in Section 47.004 by deleting
rather than amending Subsection (b).  

SECTION 3.  Differs from original bill in proposed Section 47.005 by
deleting proposed Subsection (b).  Redesignates original Subsection (c) as
Subsection (b). 

SECTION 4.  Differs from original bill by adding a new SECTION 4, to add
Section 47.006 to the Parks and Wildlife Code.  

Differs from original bill by redesignating SECTION 4 as SECTION 5.