By: Guillen H.B. No. 3271
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a deer management program commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 63, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended by adding Section 63.003, to read as follows:
Section 63.003. DEER MANAGEMENT COMMISSION. (a) In this
section:
(1) "Commission" means the deer management
commission;
(2) "Deer" means a white-tailed deer or mule deer;
(3) "Department" means the Parks and Wildlife
Department.
(b) The commission is composed of the following nineteen
members:
(1) two veterinarians who are members of the Texas
Deer Association, one whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the
house of representatives and one whom shall be appointed by the
lieutenant governor;
(2) two wildlife biologists who are members of the
Texas Deer Association, one whom shall be appointed by the speaker
of the house of representatives and one whom shall be appointed by
the lieutenant governor;
(3) two veterinarians who are members of the Texas
Wildlife Association, one whom shall be appointed by the speaker of
the house of representatives and one whom shall be appointed by the
lieutenant governor;
(3) two wildlife biologists who are members of the
Texas Wildlife Association, one whom shall be appointed by the
speaker of the house of representatives and one whom shall be
appointed by the lieutenant governor;
(4) two representatives from the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department;
(4) two representatives from the Texas Animal Health
Commission;
(5) two representatives from Texas A&M University, one
whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives and one whom shall be appointed by the lieutenant
governor;
(6) two representatives of Texas A&M University -
Kingsville, one whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house
of representatives and one whom shall be appointed by the
lieutenant governor;
(7) two representatives of Texas Tech University, one
whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives and one whom shall be appointed by the lieutenant
governor; and
(8) the governor shall appoint a member of the public
who has demonstrated a high knowledge of deer management to serve as
the chair of the commission. The chair may not be a member of the
Texas Deer Association or the Texas Wildlife Association.
(c) The commission shall study and make recommendations
regarding deer management practices for both white-tailed and mule
deer, including:
(1) study and determine exact pharmaceutical
withdrawal periods;
(2) study and develop guidelines for the denial and
review of deer breeder permits;
(3) study and recommend practices for the
identification of breeder deer;
(4) study and recommend practices for captivity of
breeder deer;
(5) study and recommend practices for the transfer of
breeder deer;
(6) study and recommend practices for the sale of game
meat;
(7) study and recommend practices for the trapping of
deer;
(8) recommend guidelines for the notification and
appeal process regarding the depopulation of some or all of a deer
breeder's herd; and
(9) recommend a date for the release of breeder deer
prior to an open hunting season.
(d) A commission member is not entitled to compensation for
the services provided as a commission member. A commission member
may receive reimbursement for the member's actual and necessary
expenses incurred in performing commission duties.
(e) The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas
Animal Health Commission shall use existing resources to conduct
the study.
(f) The commission may solicit and accept donations from
private and public sources for the purpose of this section.
(g) The commission shall meet at the call of the presiding
officer and may hold additional meetings by telephone conference
call if necessary.
(h) The commission shall hold at least three public hearings
in locations selected by the commission to provide interested
persons an opportunity to appear and speak on any subject relating
to the powers and duties of the commission.
(i) Not later than January 1, 2017, the commission shall
provide the department, the legislature, and the governor, a final
report on deer management recommendations.
(j) Not later than January 1, 2019, the commission shall
provide the department, the legislature, and the governor, a final
report on the implementation of deer management practices.
(k) This Section expires and the commission is abolished on
June 1, 2019.
(l) Not later than December 1, 2015, the governor shall
appoint the chair of the commission, the speaker of the house of
representatives, and the lieutenant governor shall appoint the
members of the commission created under this section.
(m) The commission is subject to Chapters 551 and 552,
Government Code.
SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. 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, 2015.