BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 3081
87R17266 MP-D	By: Krause et al. (Springer)
	Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs
	5/20/2021
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Several other states have passed laws granting their wildlife departments the authority to develop and implement programs that allow hunters to electronically tag game animals in addition to the use of physical tags. It has been suggested that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is looking into developing a similar type of program in Texas and that it would be prudent to provide for the statutory authority to do so. H.B. 3081 seeks to address this issue by authorizing the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission to develop and implement a program for the issuance of digital tags for the taking of certain animals.

H.B. 3081 amends current law relating to the issuance of digital tags for the taking of certain animals.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 42.0101, Parks and Wildlife Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 42, Parks and Wildlife Code, by adding Section 42.0101, as follows:

Sec. 42.0101. DIGITAL TAGS; RULES. (a) Authorizes the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission by rule to develop and implement a program for the issuance of digital tags for animals, including birds, to holders of hunting licenses authorizing the taking of those animals.

(b) Authorizes a program developed under this section to include:

(1) providing for the issuance of digital tags to the holder of a hunting license;

(2) allowing a person using a digital tag to create a digital record at the time of the taking of an animal that includes information required by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department;

(3) requiring a person using a digital tag to create the digital record described by Subdivision (2) as soon as possible after the taking of the animal; and

(4) requiring a person using a digital tag to retain in the person's possession documentation of the digital record described by Subdivision (2) at all times before the carcass is finally processed.

(c) Provides that unless the context requires otherwise, a reference under this code to a tag includes a digital tag issued under a program developed under this section.

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2021.