BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                           H.B. 2024

                                                                                                                                    By: Hilderbran

                                                                                                          Culture, Recreation, & Tourism

                                                                                                       Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Currently all hunter education classes are taught by a Volunteer Hunter Education Instructor and Texas Parks Wildlife staff.

 

HB2024 would direct the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission to allow providers other than Volunteer Hunter Education Instructors and TPWD staff to offer a hunter education course, thus making the course more available to consumers who are willing to pay a fee.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Parks and Wildlife Department in SECTION 1 of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. (a) 3. Amends Sec. 62.014 Parks & Wildlife code by adding and defining Certified Hunter Education Provider as a person who (A.) is not an employee of or a volunteer with TPWD; (B.) offers a hunter education course that meets the requirements under the revised Subsection F, and (C.) is certified by the department through an established procedure. (d) Amends Subsection (d) by directing the commission to provide that persons required to complete a hunter education course offered or sponsored by the department (added) or a comparable hunter education course, including a hunter education course offered by a certified hunter education provider ….have satisfied the requirements imposed under this subsection. Commercial providers, such as large sporting goods retailers, would be allowed to provide a certified hunter education course for a fee, if they wish. (f) Directs TPWD to establish a procedure for qualifying hunter education providers to obtain certification under Subsection (n) and to establish a procedure to verify that a hunter education course offered by a certified hunter education provider must satisfy to be comparable to the course offered by the department (h) 2-3. The Commission shall adopt rules to implement a new procedure for certifying a hunter education provider under Subsection (n); procedure for authorizing a hunter education course offered by a certified hunter education provider. (n) The department shall establish a procedure through which a hunter education provider may obtain certification under this section.

            SECTION 2. Rules are to be adopted as soon as possible after the effective date of this Act (Sept. 1, 2005) and no later than Jan. 1, 2006

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.