| TO: | Honorable Ryan Guillen, Chair, House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism |
| FROM: | John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB3782 by Guillen ( Relating to the management, breeding, destruction, and processing of deer.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted |
The bill would amend portions of the Parks and Wildlife Code to allow the deer breeder permit issuance/renewal to be valid for one year, three years, or five years at the discretion of the person applying. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), there is not fiscal impact to the department. TPWD reports that currently permits are issued for one year at a cost of $400, with an option of this permit fee being reduced, if 85 percent of birth/death reports and transfer permit activations per year are made through an online database rather than manual paper. TPWD would issue a three-year permit for $1,200 ($400 x 3) or five-year permit for $2,000 ($400 x 5) for persons agreeing to submit certain required annual reports electronically. Failure to submit required reports could result in permit terminations. To the extent the bill would amend permit procedures, no significant change to revenue or costs to TPWD are anticipated.
The bill would amend the Parks and Wildlife Code relating to deer destruction and removal. The bill would require the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to notify a deer breeder in writing when they have reason to believe the deer breeder possess deer that may pose a risk, after inspection of a deer breeder facility. The bill would provide that a deer in the custody of a deer breeder/permittee may only be destroyed upon orders from the Executive Director of the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), after the TAHC has conducted an assessment and provided written notice, as described.
The bill would provide that the full cost of destroying deer, as needed, will be paid for by the deer breeder/permittee, with reimbursements to TPWD, and the TAHC for each agency’s respective expenses. The bill would allow the TPW Commission to adopt rules relating to the bill’s provisions.
To the extent the bill would amend procedures relating to deer breeder destruction, no significant fiscal implication to TAHC, TPWD or the state is anticipated.
| Source Agencies: | 802 Parks and Wildlife Department
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, KM, TB, SD
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