BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1891

By: Nevárez

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that members of the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas take pride in their rich cultural history. The parties further note that the white-tailed deer is integral to Kickapoo religion but that the members are restricted in conducting religious and ceremonial rites by current law. H.B. 1891 seeks to address this issue by providing a tribe member certain authority to hunt antlerless white-tailed deer.

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 this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1891 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to include a member of the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas who possesses documentation of membership sanctioned by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs as a resident for purposes of statutory provisions relating to general hunting licenses. The bill authorizes a documented member of the tribe who holds a resident hunting license to hunt antlerless white-tailed deer for religious ceremonial purposes on any day of the year between one-half hour before sunrise and one-half hour after sunset. The bill requires a documented member of the tribe hunting antlerless white-tailed deer to comply with all other Parks and Wildlife Code provisions and proclamations and to notify a local game warden, deputy game warden, or special game warden at least 24 hours before hunting antlerless white-tailed deer at a time of the year when a person who holds a resident hunting license but who is not a documented member of the tribe is prohibited from hunting such deer.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.