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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the application of the general fishing license |
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requirement to residents 65 years of age or older. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 46.002(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A license issued under this chapter is not required of a |
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person: |
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(1) who is a resident 65 years of age or older [and
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whose birth date is before September 1, 1930]; |
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(2) who is a nonresident, if the person's birth date is |
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before September 1, 1930, and the person's state of residence |
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grants a similar age exemption to Texas residents; |
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(3) who is mentally disabled and who is engaging in |
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recreational fishing as part of medically approved therapy, and who |
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is fishing under the immediate supervision of personnel approved or |
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employed by a hospital, residence, or school for mentally disabled |
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persons; |
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(4) who is mentally retarded and is engaged in |
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recreational fishing under the immediate supervision of a person |
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who: |
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(A) holds a license issued under this chapter; |
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and |
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(B) has the permission of the mentally retarded |
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person's family head or legal guardian to take the mentally |
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retarded person fishing if the person is not a member of the family |
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of the mentally retarded person; or |
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(5) who is participating in an event that is sponsored |
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or co-sponsored by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department with the |
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approval of the Executive Director. |
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SECTION 2. Section 46.004(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The commission may establish a lower fee or waive the |
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fee or license requirement for: |
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(1) a resident who has a general commercial |
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fisherman's license of this state; |
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(2) a resident who is blind as defined by Section |
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94.001, Human Resources Code; |
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(3) a resident or nonresident who is under 17 years |
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old; or |
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(4) a [resident or] nonresident who is 65 years of age |
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or older [old or over]. |
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SECTION 3. 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. |