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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to hunting and fishing license fee exemptions for certain |
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veterans. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 42.012(c), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(c) "Qualified disabled veteran" means a veteran with a |
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service connected disability, as defined by the Veterans' |
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Administration, consisting of the loss of the use of an upper or [a] |
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lower extremity or of a disability rating of 60 percent or more and |
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who is receiving compensation from the United States for the |
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disability. |
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SECTION 2. Section 50.001(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The department may issue to residents of this state and |
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nonresident qualified disabled veterans a combination hunting and |
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fishing license. |
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SECTION 3. Section 50.0011, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 50.0011. DEFINITIONS [DEFINITION]. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Qualified disabled veteran" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 42.012(c). |
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(2) "Resident"[, "resident"] means: |
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(A) [(1)] an individual who has resided |
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continuously in this state for more than six months immediately |
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before applying for a license issued under this chapter; |
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(B) [(2)] a member of the United States armed |
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forces on active duty; |
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(C) [(3)] a dependent of a member of the United |
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States armed forces on active duty; or |
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(D) [(4)] a member of any other category of |
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individuals that the commission by regulation designates as |
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residents. |
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SECTION 4. Section 50.002, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) The commission shall waive the fee under Subsection (a) |
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for a qualified disabled veteran who is a resident or nonresident. |
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SECTION 5. Section 50.003, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 50.003. OTHER LICENSES NOT REQUIRED. A holder of |
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[resident who has acquired] a combination hunting and fishing |
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license is not required to obtain the hunting license required by |
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Chapter 42 [of this code] or the fishing license required by Chapter |
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46 [of this code]. |
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SECTION 6. (a) The changes in law made by this Act apply |
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only to a fee charged for a hunting or fishing license issued on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. |
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(b) A hunting or fishing license issued before the effective |
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date of this Act is covered by the law in effect when the license was |
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issued, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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The Parks and Wildlife Department is not required to issue a refund |
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for any license issued before the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |