AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Currently, an applicant for a hunting or fishing license is required to provide the applicant's Social Security number for certain purposes relating to child support enforcement, regardless of the applicant's age. A minor 13 years of age or younger is unlikely to be an obligor subject to a child support order and it is therefore unnecessary for such a person to provide a Social Security number when applying for a hunting or fishing license. H.B. 821 seeks to address this concern.

 

H.B. 821 amends current law relating to the requirements of certain minors applying for a hunting or fishing license.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission in SECTION 2 (Section 11.005, Parks and Wildlife Code) of this bill.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 231.302, Family Code, by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (c-2), as follows:

 

(c) Provides that, except as provided by Subsection (c-1) or (c-2), to assist in the administration of laws relating to child support enforcement under Parts A and D of Title IV of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 601 et seq. and 42 U.S.C. Section 651 et seq.), rather than under Parts A and D of Title IV of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sections 601-617 and 651-669):

 

(1)-(3) Makes no change to these subdivisions.

 

(c-1) Provides that, for purposes of issuing a fishing or hunting license, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is not required to request, and an applicant is not required to provide, the applicant's social security number if the applicant is 13 years of age or younger.

 

SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 11, Parks and Wildlife Code, by adding Section 11.005, as follows:

 

Sec. 11.005.  SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS OF CERTAIN MINORS.  (a) Prohibits the Texas Park and Wildlife Commission from adopting rules that require a person 13 years of age or younger who applies for a license under Chapter 42 (General Hunting License), 46 (Fishing License), or 50 (Combination Hunting and Fishing License) to provide the applicant's social security number.

 

(b) Authorizes the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission to adopt a rule requiring an applicant described by Subsection (a) or the applicant's parent or guardian to sign a statement that the applicant is not an obligor subject to a child support order.

 

SECTION 3. Requires the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, not later than December 1, 2015, to adopt any necessary rules to implement this Act.

 

SECTION 4. Provides that the change in law made by this Act applies only to an application for a hunting or fishing license that is submitted on or after January 1, 2016. Makes application of this Act prospective.

 

SECTION 5. Effective date: September 1, 2015.