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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a task force to study methods to prevent the theft of |
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desert plants. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 12.052 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 12.052. STUDY OF METHODS TO PREVENT DESERT PLANT |
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THEFT. (a) Not later than December 1, 2015, the commissioner shall |
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appoint a task force to study methods to prevent the theft of desert |
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plants from private property, including the following genera of |
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plants: |
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(1) Agave; |
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(2) Ariocarpus; |
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(3) Echinocactus; |
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(4) Echinocereus; |
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(5) Ferocactus; |
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(6) Fouquieria; |
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(7) Mammillaria; and |
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(8) Yucca. |
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(b) The task force shall study the sale and transportation |
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of desert plants and methods to prevent the theft of desert plants |
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from private property. The task force may study the feasibility and |
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effectiveness of: |
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(1) implementing registration requirements for |
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persons who sell or transport desert plants; |
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(2) requiring persons who sell or transport desert |
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plants to enter into a compliance agreement with a state agency; |
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(3) requiring persons who sell or transport desert |
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plants to document the origin of the plants; |
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(4) authorizing a state agency to issue stop-sale |
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orders regarding or to seize desert plants that do not comply with |
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legal requirements; |
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(5) imposing civil, criminal, or administrative |
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penalties for persons who steal desert plants and for persons who |
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fail to comply with legal requirements governing the sale or |
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transportation of desert plants; and |
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(6) taking any other action to regulate the sale or |
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transportation of desert plants and prevent the theft of desert |
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plants, as determined by the task force. |
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(c) Not later than December 1, 2016, the task force shall |
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submit to the house committees on agriculture and livestock and |
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appropriations a report that includes recommendations for |
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legislation to regulate the sale or transportation of desert plants |
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and prevent the theft of desert plants from private property. |
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(d) This section expires December 31, 2016. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |