BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                       H.B. 506

79R11222 KCR-D                                                                                      By: Hilderbran (Jackson)

                                                                                                                               Natural Resources

                                                                                                                                            5/20/2005

                                                                                                                                           Engrossed

 

 

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Currently when private property becomes flooded by public water that land can then be used for hunting.

 

H.B. 506 requires a person to obtain landowner consent in order to hunt on private land that has been submerged by public water.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 62, Parks and Wildlife Code, by adding Section 62.002, as follows:

 

Sec. 62.002.  HUNTING ON OR OVER CERTAIN SUBMERGED LAND.  (a)  Prohibits a person, except as provided by Subsection (b), from hunting or taking any wild animal or wild bird when the person is on or over privately owned land that is submerged under certain types of bodies of water or conspicuously marked as privately owned by a sign or signs that contain specific information.

 

(b)  Sets forth aquatic life, persons, or land for which this section does not apply.

 

(c)  Provides that this section does not authorize a person to fish by any means or method or at any time or place that is otherwise prohibited by this code.

 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 61.022(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, to prohibit a person from hunting or catching by any means or method or possess a wildlife resource at any time and at any place covered by this chapter unless the owner of the submerged land, or the owner's agent, consents.

 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2005.