82R22506 SGA-D
 
  By: Dutton H.B. No. 550
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 550:
 
  By:  Kuempel C.S.H.B. No. 550
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to an exemption to the requirement for a fishing license
  for residents of a certain age.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 46.002(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A license issued under this chapter is not required of a
  person:
               (1)  who is a resident and whose birth date is before
  January 1, 1931 [September 1, 1930];
               (2)  who is a nonresident, if the person's birth date is
  before September 1, 1930, and the person's state of residence
  grants a similar age exemption to Texas residents;
               (3)  who is mentally disabled and who is engaging in
  recreational fishing as part of medically approved therapy, and who
  is fishing under the immediate supervision of personnel approved or
  employed by a hospital, residence, or school for mentally disabled
  persons;
               (4)  who is mentally retarded and is engaged in
  recreational fishing under the immediate supervision of a person
  who:
                     (A)  holds a license issued under this chapter;
  and
                     (B)  has the permission of the mentally retarded
  person's family head or legal guardian to take the mentally
  retarded person fishing if the person is not a member of the family
  of the mentally retarded person; or
               (5)  who is participating in an event that is sponsored
  or co-sponsored by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department with the
  approval of the Executive Director.
         SECTION 2.  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, 2011.