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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a permit issued by the Parks and Wildlife Department for |
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certain hunting dog field trials; authorizing a fee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 43, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended |
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by adding Subchapter J to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER J. FIELD TRIAL PERMIT |
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Sec. 43.251. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Field trial" means a competitive hunting dog |
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event where dogs chase or pursue squirrels, fur-bearing animals, or |
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nongame animals under field conditions. |
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(2) "Field trial permit" means a permit issued under |
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Section 43.252. |
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(3) "Fur-bearing animal" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 71.001. |
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(4) "Nongame" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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67.001. |
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(5) "Squirrel" means gray or cat squirrels, fox |
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squirrels, or red squirrels. |
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Sec. 43.252. FIELD TRIAL PERMIT. (a) A person may apply to |
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the department in the manner prescribed by commission rules for a |
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permit under this section exempting registered participants in a |
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field trial held by the person from the hunting license |
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requirements of Chapter 42 while the individuals are participating |
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in the field trial. |
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(b) The department may issue a permit under this section |
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only for a field trial held on privately owned land or on public |
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land authorized under commission rules adopted under Section |
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43.253(a). |
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(c) An application for a field trial permit must: |
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(1) be on a form prescribed by the department; and |
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(2) contain the following information: |
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(A) the name and address of the applicant; |
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(B) the address of the property on which the |
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field trial is to be held; |
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(C) the species of wildlife to be pursued in the |
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field trial; |
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(D) if applicable, the name of the hunting dog |
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club or organization sanctioning the field trial; and |
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(E) any other information required by the |
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department. |
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(d) The fee for a field trial permit is $50. |
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(e) A field trial permit is valid: |
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(1) for a period of nine consecutive days; and |
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(2) only on the land specified in the permit. |
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Sec. 43.253. COMMISSION RULES. (a) The commission shall |
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adopt rules specifying the public lands for which a field trial |
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permit may be issued. |
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(b) The commission may adopt rules as necessary to |
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administer this subchapter, including rules necessary to manage and |
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protect wildlife subject to a field trial permit. |
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Sec. 43.254. HUNTING LICENSE NOT REQUIRED DURING FIELD |
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TRIAL. An individual registered to participate in a field trial |
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held under a field trial permit is exempt from the hunting license |
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requirements of Chapter 42 while the individual is participating in |
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the field trial. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Parks and Wildlife Commission shall adopt rules |
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necessary to implement Subchapter J, Chapter 43, Parks and Wildlife |
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Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |