BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 733
86R6960 AAF-F	By: Perry; Flores
	Water & Rural Affairs
	3/28/2019
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Currently, the Managed Lands Deer Program is free of charge. S.B. 733 would allow the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission to charge a fee for program participation. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will be able to add much needed capacity to effectively address the significant increase in demand associated with program popularity and growth.

As proposed, S.B. 733 amends current law relating to the authorization of a fee for participation in the Managed Lands Deer Program.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission in SECTION 2 (Sections 43.976 and 43.977, Parks and Wildlife Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 11.032(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, as follows:

(b) Requires the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to deposit to the credit of the game, fish, and water safety account all revenue, less allowable costs, from the following sources:

(1)�(20) makes no changes to these subdivisions;

(21)�(22) makes nonsubstantive changes to these subdivisions; and

(23) participation fees collected under Section 43.976.

SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 43, Parks and Wildlife Code, by adding Subchapter Y, as follows:

SUBCHAPTER Y. MANAGED LANDS DEER PROGRAM

Sec. 43.975. DEFINITION. Defines "program."

Sec. 43.976. PROGRAM PARTICIPATION FEE. (a) Authorizes the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (TPWC) by rule to impose a fee for participation in the program. Provides that Section 2001.0045 (Requirement for Rule Increasing Costs to Regulate Persons), Government Code, does not apply to a rule adopted under this section.

(b) Requires TPWC to remit a fee collected under Subsection (a) to the comptroller of public accounts of the States of Texas for deposit to the credit of the game, fish, and water safety account.

Sec. 43.977. RULES. Requires TPWC to adopt rules required to implement the program.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.