84R14393 SLB-D
By: Murr H.B. No. 3057
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a grant program for the purpose of
controlling rodents and predatory animals.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Title 5, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended by
adding Subtitle F-1 to read as follows:
SUBTITLE F-1. CONTROL OF RODENTS AND PREDATORY ANIMALS
CHAPTER 87. GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE CONTROL OF RODENTS AND
PREDATORY ANIMALS
Sec. 87.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Extension service" means the Texas A&M AgriLife
Extension Service.
(2) "Political subdivision" means a county,
municipality, special district, river authority, or other
governmental entity created under the authority of the state or a
county or municipality.
(3) "Predatory animals" includes coyotes, mountain
lions, bobcats, Russian boars, and feral hogs.
(4) "Rodents" includes prairie dogs, pocket gophers,
jackrabbits, ground squirrels, rats, and other rodent pests.
Sec. 87.002. GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The department and the
extension service jointly shall create and administer a grant
program to make grants to political subdivisions and qualified
nonprofit organizations for the control of rodents and predatory
animals.
(b) The commission, in consultation with the extension
service, shall adopt rules to implement the grant program,
including rules to govern:
(1) the qualifications for receiving a grant,
including the qualifications for nonprofit organizations;
(2) grant amounts; and
(3) conditions for the use of grant money.
SECTION 2. Section 11.043(c), Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), money in the
account may be spent only for acquisition and development,
maintenance, or operation of parks, fisheries, and wildlife
projects that have been individually approved by the commission.
Projects that directly provide hunting, fishing, or outdoor
recreation opportunity to the public shall be given preference for
funding under this section. Approved projects may include:
(1) acquiring land or facilities for use in any
department program;
(2) developing and improving any land or facility
owned or controlled by the department;
(3) servicing the debt on Texas park development bonds
issued under Article III, Section 49-e, of the Texas Constitution
or any other bonds issued for parks, fisheries, or wildlife
projects;
(4) local park grants in Chapter 24 of this code;
(5) initiating or participating in partnerships to
enhance conservation of historical, cultural, or natural
resources;
(6) operational and maintenance costs in association
with any parks, fisheries, wildlife projects, or department law
enforcement efforts in support of this code; [and]
(7) meeting the requirements for providing matching
money for any federal grants for parks, fisheries, or wildlife
projects; and
(8) controlling rodents and predatory animals under
Chapter 87.
SECTION 3. Section 151.801, Tax Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (c-1) and adding Subsection (c-2) to read as
follows:
(c-1) Except as provided by this subsection, the
comptroller may not credit to the Parks and Wildlife Department or
the Texas Historical Commission any amounts under this section that
are in excess of the amounts appropriated to the department or
commission for that biennium. In addition to amounts appropriated
to the Parks and Wildlife Department from the proceeds described by
Subsection (c):
(1) [,] the comptroller shall transfer to appropriate
department accounts amounts from those proceeds sufficient to fund
the state contributions for employee benefits of Parks and Wildlife
Department employees whose salaries or wages are paid from
department accounts receiving the transfers; and
(2) the comptroller shall transfer $500,000 in each
state fiscal year to the credit of the parks and wildlife
conservation and capital account.
(c-2) Money transferred under Subsection (c-1)(2) may be
appropriated only for the purpose of controlling rodents and
predatory animals as authorized by Chapter 87, Parks and Wildlife
Code.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.