BILL ANALYSIS
By: Cook, Byron
Culture, Recreation, & Tourism
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
When managing waters to develop better recreational fishing, a problem was discovered in the language of current statute. When a private owner desires to thin his fish population, he cannot remove his private fish without first having a TDA Fish Farm license, approval from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and a letter from TCEQ stating that the landowner does not need a wastewater discharge permit. All of these actions are unnecessary when the only purpose for the removal of the fish is private water and private fish management.
CSHB 3024 amends Section 134.017 of the Agriculture Code to add section (b), which states that no fish farming license is required for the sale of fish provided that the sale meets certain requirements set forth in the section.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
SECTION 1: Amends Section 134.017 of the Agriculture Code to add section (b), relating to fish-farming licenses and the sale of fish.
SECTION 2: This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2005
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
Removes the word "culled" in the caption and adds "collected from certain private waters." Places the new language into Section 134.018 rather than subsection (b) of Section 134.017. Changes the word "fish farming" to "aquaculture." Adds the word "and" after (4) in subsection (a).