By: RodrÃguez S.B. No. 1204
(Márquez)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a waiver of fees by the Department of Agriculture and
the Parks and Wildlife Department for certain educational programs
involving aquaculture and hydroponics.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 134.014, Agriculture Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 134.014. LICENSE FEES; WAIVERS. (a) The department
shall issue an aquaculture license or a fish farm vehicle license on
completion of applicable license requirements and the payment of a
fee by the applicant, as provided by department rule.
(b) The department by rule shall waive the initial and
renewal aquaculture license fees if the license or license renewal
is requested by a public school to establish and maintain an
educational program that will give students experience with a
sustainable system of agriculture that mixes aquaculture and
hydroponics. To qualify for the fee waiver, the school must submit
an application to the department showing that the school's program
meets the department's requirements, including requirements for
supervision, handling of the fish species, and control of wastes.
SECTION 2. Section 66.007, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows:
(c-1) The commission by rule shall waive the initial and
renewal fees for an exotic species permit if the permit or permit
renewal is requested by a public school to establish and maintain an
educational program that will give students experience with a
sustainable system of agriculture that mixes aquaculture and
hydroponics. To qualify for the fee waiver, the school must submit
an application to the department showing that the school's program
meets the department's requirements, including requirements for
supervision, handling of the exotic species, and control of wastes.
SECTION 3. (a) The Department of Agriculture shall adopt
rules required to implement Section 134.014, Agriculture Code, as
amended by this Act, not later than December 31, 2015.
(b) The Parks and Wildlife Commission shall adopt rules
required to implement Section 66.007(c-1), Parks and Wildlife Code,
as added by this Act, not later than December 31, 2015.
SECTION 4. 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.