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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the use of laser sighting devices by hunters who are |
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legally blind. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 62.005, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 62.005. HUNTING WITH LIGHT. Except as provided by |
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Section 62.0055, no [No] person may hunt a game animal or bird |
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protected by this code with the aid of an artificial light that |
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casts or reflects a beam of light onto or otherwise illuminates the |
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game animal or bird, including the headlights of a motor vehicle. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 62, Parks and Wildlife |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 62.0055 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 62.0055. HUNTING WITH LASER SIGHTING DEVICE BY LEGALLY |
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BLIND HUNTER. (a) In this section, "legally blind" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 62.104, Government Code. |
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(b) A legally blind hunter may use a laser sighting device |
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during regular hunting hours when assisted by a person who: |
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(1) is not legally blind; |
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(2) has a hunting license; and |
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(3) is at least 13 years of age. |
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(c) The legally blind hunter must carry proof of being |
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legally blind. |
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(d) Section 62.014 applies to a hunter under this section. |
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SECTION 3. (a) Not later than September 1, 2007, the Parks |
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and Wildlife Commission shall adopt rules that prescribe what is |
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acceptable as proof of being legally blind under Section 62.0055, |
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Parks and Wildlife Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) The Parks and Wildlife Department may not enforce |
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Section 62.0055(c), Parks and Wildlife Code, as added by this Act, |
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until the rules adopted under Subsection (a) of this section take |
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effect. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |