| |
| |
| |
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the possession and transportation of certain |
|
|
nonindigenous snakes; increasing a criminal penalty. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 43.851(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) The commission by rule shall establish permits that |
|
|
allow permit holders to possess or transport in this state a live |
|
|
nonindigenous snake, including a hybrid of any kind, that is: |
|
|
(1) venomous [snake]; or |
|
|
(2) a constrictor that is one of the following: |
|
|
(A) African rock python, Python sebae; |
|
|
(B) Asiatic rock python, Python molurus; |
|
|
(C) Burmese python, Python bivittatus; |
|
|
(D) green anaconda, Eunectes murinus; |
|
|
(E) [(D)] reticulated python, Python |
|
|
reticulatus; or |
|
|
(F) [(E)] southern African python, Python |
|
|
natalensis. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 43.856, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
|
|
amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) or (c), a person |
|
|
who violates this subchapter or a rule adopted under this |
|
|
subchapter commits an offense that is a Class C Parks and Wildlife |
|
|
Code misdemeanor. |
|
|
(c) If it is shown at the trial of the defendant for a |
|
|
violation of this subchapter or a rule adopted under this |
|
|
subchapter that the defendant has engaged in a commercial activity |
|
|
without holding a required permit and the defendant has been |
|
|
previously convicted of a violation of this subchapter or a rule |
|
|
adopted under this subchapter, on conviction the defendant shall be |
|
|
punished for a Class B Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
| |
| |
| |
______________________________ |
______________________________ |
| |
President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
| |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.B. No. 2326 was passed by the House on April |
|
|
16, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 141, Nays 4, 2 present, not |
|
|
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
|
|
No. 2326 on May 24, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 117, Nays 28, |
|
|
1 present, not voting. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.B. No. 2326 was passed by the Senate, with |
|
|
amendments, on May 19, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays |
|
|
0. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
|
APPROVED: __________________ |
|
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
__________________ |
|
|
Governor |