H.B. No. 547
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to verification of hunting and fishing license
  information.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 42.006, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 42.006.  POSSESSION OF LICENSE;[:] RULES. (a) The
  commission by rule may prescribe requirements relating to
  possessing a license issued under this chapter.
         (b)  Rules adopted under Subsection (a) must allow for a
  person to present for the purpose of verification of possession a
  hunting license as an image displayed on a wireless communication
  device. The image displayed may be either an image of information
  from the Internet website of the department or a photograph of a
  hunting license.
         (c)  The display of an image that includes hunting license
  information on a wireless communication device under this section
  does not constitute effective consent for a law enforcement
  officer, or any other person, to access the contents of the wireless
  communication device except to view the hunting license
  information.
         (d)  The authorization of the use of a wireless communication
  device to display hunting license information under Subsection (b)
  does not prevent a court of competent jurisdiction from requiring a
  person to provide a paper copy of the person's hunting license in a
  hearing or trial or in connection with discovery proceedings.
         (e)  A telecommunications provider, as defined by Section
  51.002, Utilities Code, may not be held liable to the holder of a
  hunting license for the failure of a wireless communication device
  to display hunting license information under Subsection (b).
         SECTION 2.  Section 46.0085, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
  amended by adding Subsections (d), (e), (f), and (g) to read as
  follows:
         (d)  Rules adopted under Subsection (a) must allow for a
  person to present for the purpose of verification of possession a
  fishing license as an image displayed on a wireless communication
  device. The image displayed may be either an image of information
  from the Internet website of the department or a photograph of a
  fishing license.
         (e)  The display of an image that includes fishing license
  information on a wireless communication device under this section
  does not constitute effective consent for a law enforcement
  officer, or any other person, to access the contents of the wireless
  communication device except to view the fishing license
  information.
         (f)  The authorization of the use of a wireless communication
  device to display fishing license information under Subsection (d)
  does not prevent a court of competent jurisdiction from requiring a
  person to provide a paper copy of the person's fishing license in a
  hearing or trial or in connection with discovery proceedings.
         (g)  A telecommunications provider, as defined by Section
  51.002, Utilities Code, may not be held liable to the holder of a
  fishing license for the failure of a wireless communication device
  to display fishing license information under Subsection (d).
         SECTION 3.  Section 50.004, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
  amended by adding Subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f) to read as
  follows:
         (c)  Rules adopted under Subsection (a) must allow for a
  person to present for the purpose of verification of possession a
  combination hunting and fishing license as an image displayed on a
  wireless communication device. The image displayed may be either an
  image of information from the Internet website of the department or
  a photograph of a combination hunting and fishing license.
         (d)  The display of an image that includes combination
  hunting and fishing license information on a wireless communication
  device under this section does not constitute effective consent for
  a law enforcement officer, or any other person, to access the
  contents of the wireless communication device except to view the
  combination hunting and fishing license information.
         (e)  The authorization of the use of a wireless communication
  device to display combination hunting and fishing license
  information under Subsection (c) does not prevent a court of
  competent jurisdiction from requiring a person to provide a paper
  copy of the person's combination hunting and fishing license in a
  hearing or trial or in connection with discovery proceedings.
         (f)  A telecommunications provider, as defined by Section
  51.002, Utilities Code, may not be held liable to the holder of a
  combination hunting and fishing license for the failure of a
  wireless communication device to display combination hunting and
  fishing license information under Subsection (c).
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 547 was passed by the House on March
  27, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 147, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 547 was passed by the Senate on May 3,
  2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor