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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a grant program for the purpose of |
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controlling rodents and predatory animals. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Title 5, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended by |
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adding Subtitle F-1 to read as follows: |
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SUBTITLE F-1. CONTROL OF RODENTS AND PREDATORY ANIMALS |
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CHAPTER 87. GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE CONTROL OF RODENTS AND |
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PREDATORY ANIMALS |
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Sec. 87.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Extension service" means the Texas A&M AgriLife |
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Extension Service. |
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(2) "Political subdivision" means a county, |
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municipality, special district, river authority, or other |
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governmental entity created under the authority of the state or a |
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county or municipality. |
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(3) "Predatory animals" includes coyotes, mountain |
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lions, bobcats, Russian boars, and feral hogs. |
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(4) "Rodents" includes prairie dogs, pocket gophers, |
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jackrabbits, ground squirrels, rats, and other rodent pests. |
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Sec. 87.002. GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The department and the |
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extension service jointly shall create and administer a grant |
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program to make grants to political subdivisions and qualified |
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nonprofit organizations for the control of rodents and predatory |
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animals. |
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(b) The commission, in consultation with the extension |
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service, shall adopt rules to implement the grant program, |
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including rules to govern: |
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(1) the qualifications for receiving a grant, |
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including the qualifications for nonprofit organizations; |
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(2) grant amounts; and |
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(3) conditions for the use of grant money. |
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SECTION 2. Section 11.043(c), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), money in the |
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account may be spent only for acquisition and development, |
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maintenance, or operation of parks, fisheries, and wildlife |
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projects that have been individually approved by the commission. |
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Projects that directly provide hunting, fishing, or outdoor |
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recreation opportunity to the public shall be given preference for |
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funding under this section. Approved projects may include: |
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(1) acquiring land or facilities for use in any |
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department program; |
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(2) developing and improving any land or facility |
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owned or controlled by the department; |
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(3) servicing the debt on Texas park development bonds |
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issued under Article III, Section 49-e, of the Texas Constitution |
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or any other bonds issued for parks, fisheries, or wildlife |
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projects; |
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(4) local park grants in Chapter 24 of this code; |
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(5) initiating or participating in partnerships to |
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enhance conservation of historical, cultural, or natural |
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resources; |
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(6) operational and maintenance costs in association |
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with any parks, fisheries, wildlife projects, or department law |
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enforcement efforts in support of this code; [and] |
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(7) meeting the requirements for providing matching |
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money for any federal grants for parks, fisheries, or wildlife |
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projects; and |
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(8) controlling rodents and predatory animals under |
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Chapter 87. |
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SECTION 3. Section 151.801, Tax Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (c-1) and adding Subsection (c-2) to read as |
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follows: |
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(c-1) Except as provided by this subsection, the |
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comptroller may not credit to the Parks and Wildlife Department or |
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the Texas Historical Commission any amounts under this section that |
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are in excess of the amounts appropriated to the department or |
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commission for that biennium. In addition to amounts appropriated |
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to the Parks and Wildlife Department from the proceeds described by |
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Subsection (c): |
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(1) [,] the comptroller shall transfer to appropriate |
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department accounts amounts from those proceeds sufficient to fund |
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the state contributions for employee benefits of Parks and Wildlife |
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Department employees whose salaries or wages are paid from |
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department accounts receiving the transfers; and |
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(2) the comptroller shall transfer $500,000 in each |
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state fiscal year to the credit of the parks and wildlife |
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conservation and capital account. |
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(c-2) Money transferred under Subsection (c-1)(2) may be |
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appropriated only for the purpose of controlling rodents and |
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predatory animals as authorized by Chapter 87, Parks and Wildlife |
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Code. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |