By: Lozano, Canales (Senate Sponsor - Hinojosa) H.B. No. 1179
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 9, 2013;
May 10, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on
Agriculture, Rural Affairs, and Homeland Security; May 20, 2013,
reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 3, Nays 0;
May 20, 2013, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the payment of restitution for the taking of wildlife
resources without the property owner's consent.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 61.022, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
(b-1) A court shall order a defendant convicted of an
offense under this section to make restitution to the owner of the
land, submerged land, or water. Restitution under this section may
not include a payment for the value of wildlife or wildlife remains.
SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An
offense committed before the effective date of this Act is covered
by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and the former
law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this
section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this
Act if any element of the offense was committed before that date.
SECTION 3. 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, 2013.
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