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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to creating a Class C menhaden boat license; imposing a |
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fee; requiring a license. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 47.008, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsections (a) and (d) and adding Subsection |
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(a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a) A boat may not be used for the purpose of catching, |
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storing, and transporting menhaden in tidal water unless the owner |
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of the boat has acquired: |
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(1) a Class A menhaden boat license; or |
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(2) a Class C menhaden boat license. |
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(a-1) The holder of a Class C menhaden boat license may not |
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take or harvest from the public water of the state more than 300 |
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pounds a day of menhaden or an amount set by the department. |
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(d) The commission shall set the license fee for each [Class
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B] menhaden boat for each yearly period: |
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(1) in an amount not less than $2,000 for a Class A |
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menhaden boat license; |
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(2) in an amount not to exceed $50 for a Class B |
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menhaden boat license; and |
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(3) at $420 for a Class C menhaden boat license. |
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SECTION 2. Section 47.038, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (a-1), nets [Nets] or |
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purse seines used for catching menhaden may not be: |
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(1) less than one and one-half inch stretched mesh, |
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excluding the bag; |
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(2) used in any bay, river, pass, or tributary, nor |
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within one mile of any barrier, jetty, island, or pass, nor within |
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one-half mile offshore in the Gulf of Mexico; or |
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(3) used for the purpose of taking edible aquatic |
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products for the purpose of barter, sale, or exchange. |
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(a-1) The holder of a Class C menhaden boat license issued |
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under Section 47.008 may use a cast net, as defined by the |
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commission, to catch menhaden. |
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SECTION 3. Section 47.008(c), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |