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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to fee waivers for certain hunting and fishing licenses |
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for volunteer firefighters. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 42.012(b) and (c), Parks and Wildlife |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The commission may set a lower fee or waive the fee or |
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license requirement for a resident who is under 17 years old, 65 |
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years old or older, or participating in an event that is sponsored |
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or cosponsored [co-sponsored] by the [Texas] Parks and Wildlife |
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Department with the approval of the executive director. The |
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commission shall waive the fee for: |
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(1) a qualified disabled veteran; |
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(2) [and for] a resident on active duty as a member of |
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the United States military forces, the Texas Army National Guard, |
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the Texas Air National Guard, or the Texas State Guard; and |
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(3) a volunteer firefighter who has completed at least |
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one year of continuous service. |
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(c) In this section: |
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(1) "Qualified disabled veteran" means a veteran with |
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a service connected disability, as defined by the United States |
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Department of Veterans Affairs, consisting of the loss of the use of |
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a lower extremity or of a disability rating of 50 percent or more |
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and who is receiving compensation from the United States for the |
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disability. |
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(2) "Volunteer firefighter" means a member of a fire |
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department or firefighting unit who: |
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(A) actively engages in fire suppression, |
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rescue, pump operation, or other firefighting activity; and |
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(B) receives not more than $5,000 in total |
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compensation during a tax year from the fire department or |
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firefighting unit that the firefighter serves. |
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SECTION 2. Section 46.004(c), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(c) The commission shall waive the fee for: |
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(1) a qualified disabled veteran as defined by Section |
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42.012; |
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(2) [and for] a resident on active duty as a member of |
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the United States military forces, the Texas Army National Guard, |
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the Texas Air National Guard, or the Texas State Guard; and |
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(3) a volunteer firefighter as defined by Section |
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42.012 who has completed at least one year of continuous service. |
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SECTION 3. Section 50.002, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) The commission shall waive the fee for an annual |
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combination resident hunting and fishing license for a volunteer |
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firefighter as defined by Section 42.012 who has completed at least |
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one year of continuous service. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |