By: Dutton (Senate Sponsor - Jackson) H.B. No. 550

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 16, 2011; May 16, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs; May 24, 2011, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 3, Nays 0; May 24, 2011, sent to printer.)

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 at least 75 years of age [and whose birth date is before 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.

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