BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1368

By: Bonnen, Dennis

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law authorizes the Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to issue a special free hunting and fishing license, called a "Super Combo," to a resident who qualifies as a disabled veteran. Interested parties note that this benefit is not available to a qualified disabled veteran who is not a Texas resident, despite the veteran's service to the nation and, indirectly, to Texas. H.B. 1368 seeks to honor the sacrifice of all veterans by allowing TPWD to issue a "Super Combo" license free of charge to a nonresident who qualifies as a disabled veteran.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1368 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to include a veteran with a service connected disability consisting of the loss of the use of an upper extremity and who is receiving compensation from the United States for the disability among the qualified disabled veterans for whom the Parks and Wildlife Commission is required to waive the fee for a resident hunting license.

H.B. 1368 adds a nonresident qualified disabled veteran as a person to whom the Parks and Wildlife Department is authorized to issue a combination hunting and fishing license and requires the commission to waive the fee for such a license for a qualified disabled veteran who is a resident or nonresident.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.