BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1181

By: Guillen

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding commercial catfish fishing in Falcon Lake, which is not allowed on the United States side of the border with Mexico but is allowed on the Mexico side. It has been noted that this disparity creates problems with the enforcement of fishing laws and regulations on both sides of the border. C.S.H.B. 1181 seeks to address this issue by authorizing a qualified person to engage in commercial catfish fishing in a certain portion of Falcon Lake.

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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Parks and Wildlife Commission in SECTION 2 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1181 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to authorize a person to engage in commercial catfish fishing in the portion of Falcon Lake in Texas that borders Starr and Zapata Counties if the person holds the required commercial fishing license issued by the Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and engages in the commercial fishing on a vessel licensed as a commercial fishing boat by TPWD. The bill authorizes TPWD to regulate the amount of catfish taken from that portion of Falcon Lake if TPWD determines that regulation is necessary to protect the catfish population in the lake from depletion or waste. The bill authorizes the Parks and Wildlife Commission to adopt rules related to commercial catfish fishing in Falcon Lake.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 1181 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute includes an authorization for TPWD to regulate the amount of catfish taken from the lake if necessary to protect the catfish population in the lake from depletion or waste.