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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the regulation of handfishing. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 43.802, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by this section [Subsection (b) or
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(c)], no person may engage in fishing in fresh water for sporting |
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purposes in this state unless the person has acquired a freshwater |
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fishing stamp issued to the person by the department. The |
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commission by rule may adopt requirements relating to possessing a |
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freshwater fishing stamp required by this subchapter. |
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(d) A person engaged in handfishing as described by Section |
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66.115 is not required to obtain a freshwater fishing stamp. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 66, Parks and Wildlife |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 66.115 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 66.115. HANDFISHING. (a) In this section, |
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"handfishing" means fishing for catfish by the use of hands only and |
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without any other fishing device such as a gaff, pole hook, or |
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spear. |
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(b) A person holding a resident or nonresident fishing |
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license issued to the person by the department may engage in |
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handfishing in the public fresh water of this state. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |