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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the taking or unloading of fish in this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 12.013, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 12.013. POWER TO TAKE WILDLIFE; FISH. (a) An |
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employee of the department acting within the scope of the |
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employee's authority may possess, take, transport, release, and |
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manage any of the wildlife and fish in this state for investigation, |
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propagation, distribution, education, disease diagnosis or |
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prevention, or scientific purposes. |
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(b) A person who is not an employee of the department who is |
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participating under the supervision of a department employee in a |
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program or event designated by the director as being conducted for |
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research or species propagation and as exempt from the normally |
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applicable size or bag limits may possess, take, transport, or |
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release any fish in this state to accomplish the intent of the |
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program or event. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 43.402(a) and (b), Parks and Wildlife |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) or (c) of this |
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section, no person may engage in fishing in saltwater for sporting |
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purposes in this state, or unload in this state fish or other |
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aquatic life taken for sporting purposes from waters managed by the |
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Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council established under the |
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Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. Section |
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1801 et seq.), unless the person has acquired a saltwater |
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sportfishing stamp endorsement issued to the person by the |
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department. The commission by rule may prescribe requirements |
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relating to possessing a stamp endorsement required by this |
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subchapter. |
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(b) A person who is exempted from obtaining a fishing |
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license under Chapter 46 [of this code] is not required to obtain a |
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saltwater sportfishing stamp endorsement. |
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SECTION 3. Section 46.001, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 46.001. PROHIBITED ACTS. No person may fish in the |
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public water of this state, or unload in this state fish or other |
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aquatic life taken for sporting purposes from waters managed by the |
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Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council established under the |
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Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. Section |
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1801 et seq.), unless he has acquired a fishing license issued under |
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this subchapter, except as provided by Sections 46.0012 and 46.002 |
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[of this code]. The commission by rule may prescribe requirements |
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relating to possessing a license required by this subchapter. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |