78R1901 SGA-D

By:  Christian                                                    H.B. No. 1414



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to commercial fishing of catfish in Toledo Bend Reservoir.           
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 66, Parks and Wildlife 
Code, is amended by adding Section 66.120 to read as follows:
	Sec. 66.120.  CATFISH CAUGHT ON LOUISIANA SIDE OF TOLEDO 
BEND RESERVOIR.  (a)  In this section, "commercial fisherman" has 
the meaning assigned by Section 47.001.
	(b)  Any limits on the length, possession, or number of 
catfish caught in this state by commercial fishermen do not apply to 
catfish caught on the Louisiana side of the Toledo Bend Reservoir.
	(c)  A commercial fisherman shall tag catfish caught on the 
Louisiana side of the Toledo Bend Reservoir before transporting the 
fish into and unloading the fish in this state.
	SECTION 2.  Section 66.121, Parks and Wildlife Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 66.121.  PENALTY.  A person who violates Section 
66.109, 66.110, 66.111, or 66.120 [66.117(b)] of this code or a 
regulation adopted under Section 66.115 of this code commits an 
offense that is a Class C Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor.
	SECTION 3.  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.