84R190 SGA-D
By: Lucio S.B. No. 1977
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of hunting license fees to help feed hungry
Texans.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 11.032(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) The department shall deposit to the credit of the game,
fish, and water safety account all revenue, less allowable costs,
from the following sources:
(1) all types of fishing licenses and stamps and
shrimping licenses, except as provided by Section 77.120;
(2) all types of hunting licenses and stamps, except
as provided by Section 11.0342;
(3) trapping licenses and other licenses relating to
the taking, propagation, and sale of fur-bearing animals or their
pelts;
(4) sale of marl, sand, gravel, shell, and mudshell;
(5) oyster bed rentals and permits;
(6) federal funds received for fish and wildlife
research, management, development and conservation, resource
protection, and law enforcement, unless the funds are received for
the specific purposes of Subchapter F, Chapter 77;
(7) sale of property, less advertising costs,
purchased from this account or a special fund or account that is now
part of this account;
(8) fines and penalties collected for violations of a
law pertaining to the protection and conservation of wild birds,
wild fowl, wild animals, fish, shrimp, oysters, game birds and
animals, fur-bearing animals, alligators, and any other wildlife
resources of this state;
(9) sale of rough fish by the department;
(10) fees for importation permits;
(11) fees from supplying fish for or placing fish in
water located on private property;
(12) sale of seized pelts;
(13) sale or lease of grazing rights to and the
products from game preserves, sanctuaries, and management areas;
(14) contracts for the removal of fur-bearing animals
and reptiles from wildlife management areas;
(15) vessel registration fees;
(16) vessel manufacturer or dealer licensing fees;
(17) fines or penalties imposed by a court for
violation of water safety laws contained in Chapter 31 of this code;
(18) alligator hunter's or alligator buyer's licenses;
(19) sale of alligators or any part of an alligator by
the department;
(20) fees and revenue collected under Section
11.027(b) or (c) of this code that are associated with the
conservation of fish and wildlife;
(21) any other source provided by law; and
(22) vessel and outboard motor titling fees.
SECTION 2. Section 11.033(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) Except as provided by Section 11.0342, the [The]
department may use money from license fees paid by hunters and
fishermen only for those functions required to manage the fish and
wildlife resources of this state.
SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 11, Parks and Wildlife
Code, is amended by adding Section 11.0342 to read as follows:
Sec. 11.0342. HUNTING LICENSE TRUST FUND FOR HUNGRY TEXANS.
(a) The hunting license trust fund for hungry Texans is created as
a trust fund outside the state treasury to be held with the
comptroller in trust.
(b) The department shall administer the hunting license
trust fund for hungry Texans and shall deposit to the credit of the
trust fund one percent of the revenue received from all types of
hunting licenses and stamps after deducting costs incurred by the
department in administering this section.
(c) Not later than November 1 of each year, the department
shall allocate all of the money deposited in the trust fund during
the preceding 12-month period to a nonprofit organization,
designated by the commission, whose purposes include the
administration of a statewide program that provides hunters with a
way to donate legally harvested deer to local food assistance
providers. The program must include the recruitment of meat
processors who, for a nominal fee to cover processing costs,
process and package the venison and contact the food assistance
providers to pick up the venison.
(d) Money received by the nonprofit organization under this
section may be used only to administer, operate, support, and
promote the program described by Subsection (c).
(e) The nonprofit organization shall submit an annual
report to the legislature and the department that includes the
total dollar amount of money received by the organization under
this section.
(f) The commission may adopt rules to implement this
section, including rules related to processes for the selection,
inspection, and periodic review of the nonprofit organization.
SECTION 4. The commission shall designate a nonprofit
organization to receive the money under Section 11.0342, Parks and
Wildlife Code, as added by this Act, not later than September 15,
2015.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.