By: Dutton H.B. No. 550
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an exemption to the requirement for a fishing license
for residents of a certain age.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 46.002(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) A license issued under this chapter is not required of a
person:
(1) who is a resident at least 75 years of age [and
whose birth date is before September 1, 1930];
(2) who is a nonresident, if the person's birth date is
before September 1, 1930, and the person's state of residence
grants a similar age exemption to Texas residents;
(3) who is mentally disabled and who is engaging in
recreational fishing as part of medically approved therapy, and who
is fishing under the immediate supervision of personnel approved or
employed by a hospital, residence, or school for mentally disabled
persons;
(4) who is mentally retarded and is engaged in
recreational fishing under the immediate supervision of a person
who:
(A) holds a license issued under this chapter;
and
(B) has the permission of the mentally retarded
person's family head or legal guardian to take the mentally
retarded person fishing if the person is not a member of the family
of the mentally retarded person; or
(5) who is participating in an event that is sponsored
or co-sponsored by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department with the
approval of the Executive Director.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2011.