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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the possession or transportation of certain snakes that |
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are not indigenous to this country; providing a penalty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 43, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended |
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by adding Subchapter V to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER V. NONINDIGENOUS SNAKE PERMIT |
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Sec. 43.851. PERMIT. (a) The commission by rule shall |
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establish a permit that allows a permit holder to possess or |
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transport in this state a live venomous snake or live constrictor |
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that is not indigenous to this country. |
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(b) A permit under this subchapter is not required for: |
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(1) a state or county official performing an official |
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duty; |
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(2) a licensed circus, carnival, menagerie, or zoo |
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that possesses or transports a snake for exhibition or scientific |
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purposes; or |
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(3) a research facility licensed under the Animal |
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Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. Section 2131 et seq.) that possesses or |
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transports a snake for scientific purposes. |
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(c) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a person may not |
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possess or transport in this state a snake described by Subsection |
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(a) without a permit issued by the department under this |
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subchapter. |
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Sec. 43.852. FEE FOR PERMIT. The commission shall set a fee |
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for a permit issued under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 43.853. OFFENSE. A person who violates this |
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subchapter commits an offense that is a Class B Parks and Wildlife |
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Code misdemeanor. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The Parks and Wildlife Commission shall |
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adopt the rules necessary under Subchapter V, Chapter 43, Parks and |
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Wildlife Code, as added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2008. |
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(b) The Parks and Wildlife Department shall begin issuing |
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permits under Subchapter V, Chapter 43, Parks and Wildlife Code, as |
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added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2008. |
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SECTION 3. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this |
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section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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(b) Sections 43.851(c) and 43.853, Parks and Wildlife Code, |
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as added by this Act, take effect January 1, 2008. |