| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the use of laser sighting devices by hunters who have |
|
|
certain documented disabilities. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 62.005, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 62.005. HUNTING WITH LIGHT. Except as provided by |
|
|
Section 62.0055 or 62.0056, no person may hunt a game animal or bird |
|
|
protected by this code with the aid of an artificial light that |
|
|
casts or reflects a beam of light onto or otherwise illuminates the |
|
|
game animal or bird, including the headlights of a motor vehicle. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 62, Parks and Wildlife |
|
|
Code, is amended by adding Section 62.0056 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 62.0056. HUNTING WITH LASER SIGHTING DEVICE BY HUNTERS |
|
|
WITH CERTAIN DISABILITIES. (a) In this section, "physically |
|
|
disabled person" means a person with a documented physical |
|
|
disability that renders the person incapable of using a traditional |
|
|
firearm sighting device. A physician's statement certifying the |
|
|
extent of the disability is sufficient documentation. |
|
|
(b) A hunter who is a physically disabled person may use a |
|
|
laser sighting device during regular hunting hours when assisted by |
|
|
a person who: |
|
|
(1) is not physically disabled; |
|
|
(2) has a hunting license; and |
|
|
(3) is at least 13 years of age. |
|
|
(c) The hunter who is a physically disabled person must |
|
|
carry proof of being physically disabled. |
|
|
(d) Section 62.014 applies to a hunter under this section. |
|
|
SECTION 3. (a) Not later than September 1, 2009, the Parks |
|
|
and Wildlife Commission shall adopt rules that prescribe what is |
|
|
acceptable as proof of being a physically disabled person under |
|
|
Section 62.0056, Parks and Wildlife Code, as added by this Act. |
|
|
(b) The Parks and Wildlife Department may not enforce |
|
|
Section 62.0056(c), Parks and Wildlife Code, as added by this Act, |
|
|
until the rules adopted under Subsection (a) of this section take |
|
|
effect. |
|
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |