78R8342 KCR-D


By:  Hupp, Miller, Campbell, Cook of Navarro                      H.B. No. 815

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 815:                                    

By:  Hilderbran                                               C.S.H.B. No. 815



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a landowner's taking of depredating feral hogs.                   
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 42.002, Parks and 
Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 42.002.  RESIDENT LICENSE REQUIRED; EXEMPTION.                     
	SECTION 2.  Section 42.002, Parks and Wildlife Code, is 
amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to 
read as follows:
	(a)  Except as provided by Subsections [Subsection] (b) and 
(c) of this section, no resident may hunt any bird or animal in this 
state without having acquired a hunting license.
	(c)  A resident landowner or the landowner's agent may take 
feral hogs causing depredation on the resident landowner's land 
without having acquired a hunting license.
	SECTION 3.  Section 42.005, Parks and Wildlife Code, is 
amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (f) to 
read as follows:
	(b)  Except as provided by Subsection (f), no [No] 
nonresident may hunt any bird or animal in this state without first 
having acquired a general nonresident hunting license, a 
nonresident special hunting license, or a nonresident five-day 
special hunting license.
	(f)  A nonresident landowner or the landowner's agent may 
take feral hogs causing depredation on the nonresident landowner's 
land without having acquired a hunting license required by this 
chapter.
	SECTION 4.  Subchapter H, Chapter 43, Parks and Wildlife 
Code, is amended by adding Section 43.158 to read as follows:
	Sec. 43.158.  LANDOWNER PERMIT EXEMPTION.  Nothing in this 
subchapter prevents a landowner from taking depredating feral hogs 
on the landowner's land without having acquired a permit under this 
subchapter.
	SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.