By: Springer S.B. No. 840

(In the Senate - Filed February 26, 2021; March 11, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs; April 20, 2021, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; April 20, 2021, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the possession, transportation, and release 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 43.853, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 43.853. RELEASE FROM CAPTIVITY. A person may not intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence release or allow the release from captivity of a nonindigenous snake [covered by this subchapter].

SECTION 3. 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 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.

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