BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                      S.B. 1829

                                                                                                                               By: Jackson, Mike

                                                                                                                               Natural Resources

                                                                                                                                            3/29/2007

                                                                                                                                              As Filed

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

H.B. 1858, 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, amended Chapter 47 of the Agriculture Code to create the Shrimp Marketing Program (program).  The program is administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture and was to be funded at a minimum level of $250,000 per year through transfers made by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD).  That legislation provided revenue sources to fund the program, including a surcharge on certain shrimp-related licenses issued by TPWD.  The surcharge was limited to an increase of up to 10 percent of the license fees established by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission effective September 1, 2002.  The 79th Legislature enacted H.B. 2942 to extend the life of the surcharge increase until September 1, 2007.

 

As proposed, S.B. 1829 extends the term of this surcharge increase from September 1, 2007, to September 1, 2009.

 

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 Section 47.021, Parks and Wildlife Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 47.021.  LICENSE FEES.  (a)  Makes no changes to this subsection.

 

(b)  Provides that this section--prohibiting fees for licenses issued under Section 47.009 (Wholesale Fish Dealer's License), Section 47.011 (Retail Fish Dealer's License), and Section 47.013 (Retail Dealer's Truck License), from being increased by more than 10 percent of the amount of the fee set by the Parks and Wildlife Commission (commission) and effective on September 1, 2002--expires September 1, 2009, rather than 2007.

 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 77.049, Parks and Wildlife Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 77.049.  LICENSE FEES.  (a)  Makes no changes to this subsection.

 

(b)  Provides that this section--prohibiting fees for licenses issued under Section 77.031 (Commercial Bay Shrimp Boat License) and Section 77.035 (Commercial Gulf Shrimp Boat License), from being increased by more than 10 percent of the amount of the fee set by the commission and effective on September 1, 2002--expires September 1, 2009, rather than 2007.

 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: August 29, 2007.