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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 508

By: Raney

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested observers note that many current and former members of military and law enforcement communities already possess knowledge similar to the instruction provided in a hunter education course and do not need additional training to be safe, responsible hunters.
C.S.H.B. 508 seeks to reduce unnecessary regulation.                                                                                                                                                                    

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

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

 

C.S.H.B. 508 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to broaden the exemption for certain active duty or former military personnel from any requirement to complete the live firing portion of a hunter education course under the hunter education program to instead exempt such personnel from any requirement to complete such a course in general. The bill requires such personnel to have achieved a basic rifle qualification or higher to qualify for the exemption. The bill extends the exemption to a person who has previously served as a member of the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, or the Texas State Guard and has achieved a basic rifle qualification or higher, in addition to such a service member on active duty, and to a person who is serving or has previously served as a municipal police officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable, deputy constable, marshal, deputy marshal, or member of the Texas Rangers or the Texas Highway Patrol.

 

C.S.H.B. 508 authorizes the Parks and Wildlife Commission, in addition to any applicable administrative fee collected under the hunter education program, to charge a reasonable fee to cover the administrative costs of processing the application for a license submitted by an exempt person and requires such fees to be deposited to the credit of the game, fish, and water safety account.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

While C.S.H.B. 508 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

 

INTRODUCED

HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

SECTION 1.  Section 62.014, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended by amending Subsection (n) and adding Subsection (o) to read as follows:

(n)  The following persons are exempt from any requirement to complete [the live firing portion of] a hunter education course under this section:

(1)  an honorably discharged veteran of the United States armed forces who has achieved a basic rifle qualification or higher[;] or

[(2)]  a person who is on active duty as a member of the United States armed [military] forces and has achieved a basic rifle qualification or higher;

(2)  [, the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, or the Texas State Guard] a person who is on active duty or has previously served as a member of the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, or the Texas State Guard and has achieved a basic rifle qualification or higher; or

(3)  a person who is serving or has previously served as a municipal police officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable, deputy constable, marshal, deputy marshal, or member of the Texas Rangers or the Texas Highway Patrol.

(o)  In addition to any administrative fee collected under Subsection (e), the commission may charge a reasonable fee to cover the administrative costs of processing the application for a license submitted by a person described by Subsection (n).

 

SECTION 1.  Section 62.014, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended by amending Subsection (n) and adding Subsection (o) to read as follows:

(n)  The following persons are exempt from any requirement to complete [the live firing portion of] a hunter education course under this section:

(1)  an honorably discharged veteran of the United States armed forces who has achieved a basic rifle qualification or higher[;] or

[(2)]  a person who is on active duty as a member of the United States armed [military] forces and has achieved a basic rifle qualification or higher;

(2)  [, the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, or the Texas State Guard] a person who is on active duty or has previously served as a member of the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, or the Texas State Guard and has achieved a basic rifle qualification or higher; or

(3)  a person who is serving or has previously served as a municipal police officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable, deputy constable, marshal, deputy marshal, or member of the Texas Rangers or the Texas Highway Patrol.

(o)  In addition to any administrative fee collected under Subsection (e), the commission may charge a reasonable fee to cover the administrative costs of processing the application for a license submitted by a person described by Subsection (n).  Fees collected under this subsection shall be deposited to the credit of the game, fish, and water safety account.

SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2015.

SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.