HBA-NIK C.S.H.B. 2731 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 2731
By: Turner, Bob
State Recreational Resources
3/26/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Health and Safety Code allows a commissioners court to pay a
bounty to a person who destroys a predatory animal.  However, the current
law sets a cap of $20 on the amount of the bounty unless a higher amount is
approved by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.  The cost of hunting
predatory animals has risen, causing a demand for higher bounties.
C.S.H.B. 2731 removes the $20 cap for bounties.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 825.031(c), Health and Safety Code, to delete
the provision that a bounty paid under this section may not exceed $20 for
each animal unless approved by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.
 Makes application of this Act prospective to a bounty paid on or after the
effective   date, regardless of when the animal was killed. 

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2731 modifies the original in SECTION 2 by making the application
of this Act prospective in terms of when the bounty is paid, regardless of
when the animal was killed.