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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the use of hunting license fees to help feed hungry |
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Texans. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 11.032(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The department shall deposit to the credit of the game, |
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fish, and water safety account all revenue, less allowable costs, |
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from the following sources: |
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(1) all types of fishing licenses and stamps and |
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shrimping licenses, except as provided by Section 77.120; |
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(2) all types of hunting licenses and stamps, except |
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as provided by Section 11.0342; |
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(3) trapping licenses and other licenses relating to |
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the taking, propagation, and sale of fur-bearing animals or their |
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pelts; |
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(4) sale of marl, sand, gravel, shell, and mudshell; |
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(5) oyster bed rentals and permits; |
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(6) federal funds received for fish and wildlife |
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research, management, development and conservation, resource |
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protection, and law enforcement, unless the funds are received for |
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the specific purposes of Subchapter F, Chapter 77; |
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(7) sale of property, less advertising costs, |
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purchased from this account or a special fund or account that is now |
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part of this account; |
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(8) fines and penalties collected for violations of a |
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law pertaining to the protection and conservation of wild birds, |
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wild fowl, wild animals, fish, shrimp, oysters, game birds and |
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animals, fur-bearing animals, alligators, and any other wildlife |
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resources of this state; |
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(9) sale of rough fish by the department; |
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(10) fees for importation permits; |
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(11) fees from supplying fish for or placing fish in |
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water located on private property; |
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(12) sale of seized pelts; |
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(13) sale or lease of grazing rights to and the |
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products from game preserves, sanctuaries, and management areas; |
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(14) contracts for the removal of fur-bearing animals |
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and reptiles from wildlife management areas; |
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(15) vessel registration fees; |
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(16) vessel manufacturer or dealer licensing fees; |
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(17) fines or penalties imposed by a court for |
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violation of water safety laws contained in Chapter 31 of this code; |
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(18) alligator hunter's or alligator buyer's licenses; |
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(19) sale of alligators or any part of an alligator by |
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the department; |
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(20) fees and revenue collected under Section |
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11.027(b) or (c) of this code that are associated with the |
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conservation of fish and wildlife; |
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(21) any other source provided by law; and |
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(22) vessel and outboard motor titling fees. |
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SECTION 2. Section 11.033(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) Except as provided by Section 11.0342, the [The] |
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department may use money from license fees paid by hunters and |
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fishermen only for those functions required to manage the fish and |
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wildlife resources of this state. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 11, Parks and Wildlife |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 11.0342 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 11.0342. HUNTING LICENSE TRUST FUND FOR HUNGRY TEXANS. |
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(a) The hunting license trust fund for hungry Texans is created as |
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a trust fund outside the state treasury to be held with the |
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comptroller in trust. |
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(b) The department shall administer the hunting license |
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trust fund for hungry Texans and shall deposit to the credit of the |
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trust fund one percent of the revenue received from all types of |
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hunting licenses and stamps after deducting costs incurred by the |
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department in administering this section. |
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(c) Not later than November 1 of each year, the department |
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shall allocate all of the money deposited in the trust fund during |
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the preceding 12-month period to a nonprofit organization, |
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designated by the commission, whose purposes include the |
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administration of a statewide program that provides hunters with a |
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way to donate legally harvested deer to local food assistance |
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providers. The program must include the recruitment of meat |
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processors who, for a nominal fee to cover processing costs, |
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process and package the venison and contact the food assistance |
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providers to pick up the venison. |
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(d) Money received by the nonprofit organization under this |
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section may be used only to administer, operate, support, and |
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promote the program described by Subsection (c). |
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(e) The nonprofit organization shall submit an annual |
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report to the legislature and the department that includes the |
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total dollar amount of money received by the organization under |
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this section. |
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(f) The commission may adopt rules to implement this |
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section, including rules related to processes for the selection, |
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inspection, and periodic review of the nonprofit organization. |
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SECTION 4. The commission shall designate a nonprofit |
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organization to receive the money under Section 11.0342, Parks and |
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Wildlife Code, as added by this Act, not later than September 15, |
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2015. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |