BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 821

By: Sheets

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that 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. The parties contend that a minor 13 years of age or younger is unlikely to be an obligor subject to a child support order and that 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.

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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Parks and Wildlife Commission in SECTION 2 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 821 amends the Family Code, under provisions relating to child support services and information to assist in the location of persons or property, to establish 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.

H.B. 821 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to prohibit the Parks and Wildlife Commission from adopting rules that require a person 13 years of age or younger who applies for a general hunting license, a fishing license, or a combination hunting and fishing license to provide the applicant's social security number. The bill authorizes the commission to adopt a rule requiring such an applicant or the applicant's parent or guardian to sign a statement that the applicant is not an obligor subject to a child support order. The bill requires the commission, not later than December 1, 2015, to adopt any necessary rules to implement the bill's provisions and makes the provisions applicable only to an application for a hunting or fishing license that is submitted on or after January 1, 2016.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.