BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 720
	By: Perry
	Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs
	3/24/2017
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Current Texas statutes only allow deer carcasses to be reduced to two forequarters, two hindquarters and backstraps, until the carcass reaches a final destination where it then can be processed further. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (commission) does not have the authority to redefine quarters or final destination.

Because the concentrations of the prions that cause chronic wasting disease (CWD) are higher in some tissues, and transporting those tissues have the potential to spread the disease, many states have imposed restrictions on moving certain carcass parts into their states from states known to have CWD.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department would like to encourage all hunters to leave certain carcass parts at the site of harvest, which is not possible for many under existing statutes. This legislation will give the commission the latitude to amend carcass processing requirements and the definition of final destination in the event such a change is needed to mitigate disease risk and provide hunters more flexibility to leave certain carcass parts in the area where the deer was harvested.

As proposed, S.B. 720 amends current law relating to rules regarding the carcasses of certain birds or animals.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority previously granted to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission is modified in SECTION 1 (Section 42.0177, Parks and Wildlife Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.� Amends Section 42.0177, Parks and Wildlife Code, as follows:

Sec. 42.0177.� New heading: BIRD OR ANIMAL CARCASSES: COMMISSION RULES.� Authorizes the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, by rule, to modify or eliminate the tagging, carcass, final destination, or final processing requirements or provisions of Sections 42.001 (Definitions), 42.018 (Tag to be Attached to Deer), 42.0185 (Tag to be Attached to Turkey), 42.019 (Possession of Certain Parts of Antelope), or 42.020 (Bird or Animal Tags: Prohibited Acts), or other similar requirements or provisions in this chapter (General Hunting License), rather than modify or eliminate the tagging requirements of Section 42.018, 42.0185, or 42.020 or other similar requirements in this chapter.

SECTION 2.� Effective date: September 1, 2017.