79R9646 KCR-D

By:  Homer                                                        H.B. No. 2648



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to hunting licenses for certain nonresident landowners.              
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 42.001, Parks and Wildlife Code, is 
amended by adding Subdivision (9) to read as follows:
		(9)  "Nonresident landowner" means a person who is a 
nonresident who owns real property in this state.
	SECTION 2.  The heading to Section 42.002, Parks and 
Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 42.002.  RESIDENT OR NONRESIDENT LANDOWNER LICENSE 
REQUIRED;  EXEMPTION.  
	SECTION 3.  Sections 42.002(a) and (b), Parks and Wildlife 
Code, are amended to read as follows:
	(a)  Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (c) of this 
section, no resident or nonresident landowner may hunt any bird or 
animal in this state without having acquired a hunting license.
	(b)  A resident or nonresident landowner possessing a valid 
[resident] alligator hunter's license, [resident] trapper's 
license, or fur-bearing animal propagation permit is not required 
to have a license issued under this section to take or possess the 
species covered by the license or permit.
	SECTION 4.  Section 42.0021, Parks and Wildlife Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 42.0021.  LIFETIME RESIDENT OR NONRESIDENT LANDOWNER
HUNTING LICENSE.  The department may issue to residents or 
nonresident landowners of this state a lifetime resident or 
nonresident landowner hunting license.
	SECTION 5.  Sections 42.005(a) and (b), Parks and Wildlife 
Code, are amended to read as follows:
	(a)  No nonresident in this state may hunt a mule deer, 
white-tailed deer, turkey, pronghorn antelope, or desert bighorn 
sheep in this state without first having acquired a general 
nonresident hunting license or a nonresident landowner hunting 
license under Section 42.002 or 42.0021.
	(b)  Except as provided by Subsection (f), 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, or a nonresident landowner hunting license under Section 
42.002 or 42.0021.
	SECTION 6.  The heading to Section 42.012, Parks and 
Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 42.012.  RESIDENT OR NONRESIDENT LANDOWNER LICENSE 
FEE.          
	SECTION 7.  Sections 42.012(a) and (b), Parks and Wildlife 
Code, are amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The fee for a resident or nonresident landowner hunting 
license is $8 or an amount set by the commission, whichever amount 
is more.
	(b)  The commission may set a lower fee or waive the fee or 
license requirement for a resident or nonresident landowner who is 
under 17 years old, 65 years old or older, or participating in an 
event that is sponsored or co-sponsored by the Texas Parks and 
Wildlife Department with the approval of the executive director. 
The commission shall waive the fee for a qualified disabled 
veteran.
	SECTION 8.  Section 42.0121, Parks and Wildlife Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 42.0121.  LIFETIME RESIDENT OR NONRESIDENT LANDOWNER
HUNTING LICENSE FEE.  The fee for a lifetime resident or 
nonresident landowner hunting license is $300 or an amount set by 
the commission, whichever amount is more.
	SECTION 9.  Section 42.0175(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	(a)  A license issued under this chapter, other than a 
lifetime resident or nonresident landowner hunting license or a 
nonresident five-day special hunting license is valid only during 
the yearly period for which the license is issued without regard to 
the date on which a license is acquired.  Each yearly period begins 
on September 1 or on another date set by the commission and extends 
through August 31 of the next year or another date set by the 
commission.  A license issued under this chapter other than a 
nonresident five-day special hunting license that is issued before 
September 1 or another date set by the commission and does not 
expire until August 31 of the next year or another date set by the 
commission is valid from the date of issuance through August 31 of 
the following year or another date set by the commission.  The 
commission by rule may set the amount of a license fee for a license 
issued during a transition period at an amount lower than 
prescribed in this chapter and provide for a license term for a 
transition period that is shorter or longer than a year.
	SECTION 10.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.