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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a bag limit exemption for certain participants in |
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certain fishing tournaments in Chambers, Jefferson, Galveston, |
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Hardin, Newton, and Orange Counties; authorizing a fee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Title 7, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended by |
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adding Chapter 290 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 290. CHAMBERS, JEFFERSON, GALVESTON, HARDIN, NEWTON, AND |
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ORANGE COUNTIES |
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Sec. 290.001. BAG LIMIT EXEMPTIONS FOR CERTAIN FISHING |
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TOURNAMENTS. (a) In this section, "fishing tournament" has the |
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meaning assigned by Section 66.023. |
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(b) This section applies only to a fishing tournament that: |
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(1) is held on the southern stretches of the Sabine or |
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Neches River, in the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, or in the Gulf of |
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Mexico as those bodies of water lie within or are adjacent to the |
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following counties: |
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(A) Chambers County; |
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(B) Jefferson County; |
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(C) Galveston County; |
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(D) Hardin County; |
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(E) Newton County; and |
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(F) Orange County; and |
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(2) has as its participants only competitors who |
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attend high school or college. |
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(c) The department shall grant a permit for a bag limit |
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exemption under this section to a fishing tournament if the |
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organizer of the fishing tournament submits to the department: |
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(1) a complete application on a form supplied by the |
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department; and |
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(2) a fee in the amount of $500. |
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(d) A permit issued under Subsection (c) must state the |
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terms of the exemption and the dates for which the exemption is |
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valid. The organizer of the tournament shall distribute a copy of |
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the permit to all participants. |
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(e) A permit issued under this section shall allow a |
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participant in a fishing tournament to count toward the |
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participant's bag limit for largemouth bass a fish that is smaller |
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than the applicable minimum size limit by not more than two inches |
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if, at the time the fish are inspected for the purpose of |
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determining compliance with the bag limit, the participant has in |
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the participant's possession a copy of the permit. |
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(f) A fish counted under this section must be released after |
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weighing. |
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(g) The commission shall adopt rules to implement this |
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section. |
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(h) The department shall deposit money received for the |
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purchase of a permit under Subsection (c) to the credit of the game, |
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fish, and water safety account. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 290, Parks and Wildlife Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies only to a fishing tournament held on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. (a) The legal notice of the intention to |
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introduce this Act, setting forth the general substance of this |
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Act, has been published as provided by law, and the notice and a |
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copy of this Act have been furnished to all persons, agencies, |
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officials, or entities to which they are required to be furnished |
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under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 313, |
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Government Code. |
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(b) The governor, one of the required recipients, has |
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submitted the notice and Act to the Texas Commission on |
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Environmental Quality. |
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(c) The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has filed |
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its recommendations relating to this Act with the governor, the |
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lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of |
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representatives within the required time. |
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(d) All requirements of the constitution and laws of this |
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state and the rules and procedures of the legislature with respect |
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to the notice, introduction, and passage of this Act are fulfilled |
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and accomplished. |
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SECTION 4. 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. |