| TO: | Honorable Ryan Guillen, Chair, House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism |
| FROM: | Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB2469 by Guillen (Relating to the management, breeding and destruction of deer and to procedures regarding certain deer permits. ), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted |
The bill would amend portions of the Parks and Wildlife Code relating to identification of breeder deer, the process to refuse to issue or renew certain deer permits, the duration of a deer permit, the process to notify a deer breeder if it is believed the breeder holds deer posing a disease risk, and the destruction of deer covered by a deer breeder permit or deer management permit (white-tailed or mule).
Under bill provisions, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) would appoint a Wildlife Health Working Group (WHWG) to advise TPWD of the disposition of deer subject to a destruction order. The WHWG would be composed of several members, including a representative from the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC). The bill would provide that a TAHC agent may conduct an epidemiological assessment before any deer could be destroyed as posing a disease risk, subject to availability of funding and if the assessment can be conducted in a timely manner. Before destroying deer, TPWD must determine that the deer pose a threat to the health of other deer or other species, including humans.
The TAHC indicates that any additional duties as a result of the bill could reasonably be absorbed within the TAHC’s existing resources. TPWD indicates a minimal cost to implement the provisions of the bill related to programming costs for implementing three and five-year permits, which this analysis assumes could be absorbed within current resources.
The bill would take effect on September 1, 2013.
| Source Agencies: | 554 Animal Health Commission, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department
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| LBB Staff: | UP, KJo, ZS, TB
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