BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 693

By: Truitt

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law requires falconers practicing in Texas to obtain a structural pest control license from the Structural Pest Control Service. A structural pest control license applicant must complete an apprenticeship under a licensed commercial pesticides applicator as well as 28 hours of classroom training and 40 hours of on-the-job training in pesticide application, mixing, spill cleanup, and insect inspection before receiving a license. These tasks are related primarily to the control of insect pests rather than the unattended bird roosts controlled by falconers.  Falconers already are required to maintain a federal and state falconry permit where the applicant must pass a licensing exam, build aviary facilities that are regularly inspected by a game warden, and complete a two-year apprenticeship under the sponsorship of a general master class falconer.

H.B. 693 exempts a person engaged in falconry from structural pest control licensing requirements to prevent unnecessary licensing procedures for falconers.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H. B. 693 amends the Occupations Code to exempt from structural pest control licensing requirements a person engaged in falconry who holds a falconer's permit and uses a raptor to control or relocate other birds. The bill specifies that such a person is not considered to be engaged in the business of structural pest control.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.