BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 317

By: Hughes

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that landowners should be given more freedom to take feral hogs on the landowners' land without having acquired a hunting license, even if such hogs are not causing depredation on the land. S.B. 317 seeks to address this issue by revising a landowner's authority relating to the taking of feral hogs without a hunting license.

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

S.B. 317 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to revise the authorization for a landowner to take feral hogs on the landowner's land without having acquired a hunting license by:

· removing the specification that such hogs are causing depredation on the land; and

· changing the other persons also authorized to do so from the landowner's agent or lessee to any person with the landowner's consent.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.