| TO: | Honorable David Dewhurst, Lieutenant Governor, Senate |
| FROM: | John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB498 by Jackson (Relating to the trapping and transport of surplus white-tailed deer.), As Passed 2nd House |
The bill would amend portions of the Parks and Wildlife Code to add a qualified individual to the list of those to whom the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) may issue a permit, authorizing the trapping and transporting of surplus white-tailed deer found on the property owned by the individual. A qualified individual is one who has a wildlife management plan approved by TPWD. Currently the permit may only be issued to a political subdivision or property owners' association for white-tailed deer found within the boundaries of the political subdivision or the geographic area of the property owners' association. The bill would require each qualified individual to submit an application to TPWD showing that an overpopulation of white-tailed deer exists. The bill would allow the individual to trap and transport the deer between October 1st of a year and March 31st of the following year, unless the white-tailed deer pose a threat to human health or safety. The bill would provide that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission may charge a fee not to exceed $300. TPWD reports under the bill’s provisions, the department will continue to not charge political subdivision or property owners' associations the permit fee. However qualified individuals will be assessed the $300 fee and TPWD estimates that approximately nine permits will be issued to qualified individuals per year (9 x $300 = $2,700). Accordingly, the total fiscal impact to TPWD is $2,700 per year of additional revenue deposited to the credit of the General Revenue-Dedicated Game, Fish and Water Safety Account No. 9. The bill would take effect September 1, 2011.
| Source Agencies: | 802 Parks and Wildlife Department
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, TB, KM, SZ
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