BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1080

By: Gallego

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law provides for hunter education programs and courses that are administered or offered by the Parks and Wildlife Department or the Parks and Wildlife Commission.  Active duty military personnel and honorably discharged veterans are among the most efficient and safe handlers of weapons because of their extensive military training.  C.S.H.B. 1080 exempts those individuals from the live firing portion of a hunter education course required by state law.

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. 1080 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to exempt an honorably discharged veteran of the United States armed forces or a person who is on active duty as a member of the United States military forces, the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, or the Texas State Guard from any requirement to complete the live firing portion of a hunter education course under provisions of law relating to a hunter education program or course administered or offered by the Parks and Wildlife Department or the Parks and Wildlife Commission.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2011.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 1080 differs from the original by exempting certain active duty military personnel and honorably discharged veterans from any requirement to complete the live firing portion of a certain hunter education course, whereas the original makes the exemption applicable to the completion of the entire course.