| TO: | Honorable Craig Estes, Chair, Senate Committee on Agriculture & Rural Affairs |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB1583 by Harris (Relating to the trapping and transport of surplus white-tailed deer.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted |
The bill would amend the Parks and Wildlife Code to add a qualified individual, as defined, to the list of those the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) may issue a permit, authorizing the trapping and transporting of surplus white-tailed deer found on the property owned by the individual. Qualified individual is defined as an individual that has a wildlife management plan approved by the TPWD. According to TPWD, currently the permit may only be issued to a political subdivision or property owners' association for white-tailed deer found within the boundaries of the political subdivision or the geographic area of the property owners' association. The bill would require each qualified individual to submit an application to TPWD showing that an overpopulation of white-tailed deer exists. This bill allows the qualified individual to trap and transport the deer between October 1st of a year and March 31st of the following year, unless the white-tailed deer pose a threat to human health or safety. Texas Parks and Wildlife will charge a fee for such a permit not to exceed $300 per permit.
This estimate assumes a revenue increase of $15,000 each fiscal year in the General Revenue-Dedicated Game, Fish, and Water Safety Account No. 9 as TPWD indicates there will be approximately 50 white-tailed deer trapping and transporting permits issued each fiscal year (50 x $300 = $15,000). Based on similar permits, TPWD is estimating the permit fee to be $300. The bill would take effect September 1, 2009.
| Source Agencies: | 802 Parks and Wildlife Department
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, SZ, TB
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