BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4544

By: Meyer

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding increased coyote activity in urban and suburban areas. H.B. 4544 seeks to address these concerns by authorizing municipalities with a certain population density to capture, relocate, or euthanize coyotes.

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. 4544 amends the Health and Safety Code to authorize a municipality with a population density of more than 2,500 persons per square mile to capture, relocate, or euthanize a coyote located within the municipality or the municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction. The bill authorizes the municipality to request assistance from Texas Wildlife Services to capture, relocate, or euthanize a coyote.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.