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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.