BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 733

By: Perry

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been reported that the cost for the Parks and Wildlife Department to administer the managed lands deer program without fees is becoming unfeasible. S.B. 733 seeks to address this issue by providing for the assessment of program participation fees.

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

S.B. 733 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to authorize the Parks and Wildlife Commission by rule to impose a fee for participation in the managed lands deer program, or a successor to that program, and requires the commission to remit the fee to the comptroller of public accounts for deposit to the credit of the game, fish, and water safety account. The bill requires the commission to adopt rules to implement the program and exempts rules adopted under the bill's provisions from requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act relating to certain cost increases. The bill requires the Parks and Wildlife Department to deposit to the credit of that account all revenue, less allowable costs, from the program participation fees.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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