BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2321

By: Homer

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, a native Texan who resides outside of Texas must purchase a nonresident license to hunt in Texas, even when hunting on his or her own property.

C.S.H.B. 2321 allows nonresidents who were born in Texas to purchase a lifetime hunting, fishing, or combination hunting and fishing license.  The bill increases the minimum amount of the lifetime hunting and fishing license fees from $300 to $800 and the lifetime combination hunting and fishing license fee from $500 to $1500.

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

C.S.H.B. 2321 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to authorize the Parks and Wildlife Department to issue a lifetime hunting license to a resident of Texas or a nonresident who was born in Texas, rather than to a resident only, and increases the minimum amount of the fee for the license from $300 to $800.

C.S.H.B. 2321 authorizes the department to issue a lifetime fishing license to a resident of Texas or a nonresident who was born in Texas, rather than to a resident only, and increases the amount of the fee for the license from $300 to $800.

C.S.H.B. 2321 authorizes the department to issue a lifetime combination hunting and fishing license to a resident of Texas or a nonresident who was born in Texas, rather than to a resident only, and increases the minimum amount of the fee for the license from $500 to $1500.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2321 differs from the original by increasing the minimum amount of the lifetime hunting and fishing license fees from $300 to $800, and increasing the minimum amount of the lifetime combination hunting and fishing license fee from $500 to $1500.