S.B. No. 236




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 or lessee 
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 or 
lessee 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 or the landowner's agent or lessee 
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.

                                                                              




______________________________    ______________________________
President of the Senate             Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 236 passed the Senate on 
April 3, 2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 27, Nays 2; and that 
the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 29, 2003, by the 
following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays 2.




______________________________ 
   Secretary of the Senate             
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 236 passed the House, with 
amendment, on May 2, 2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 137, 
Nays 0, two present not voting.




______________________________ 
   Chief Clerk of the House            



Approved:


______________________________ 
            Date



______________________________ 
          Governor