85R11484 SLB-D
By: Ashby H.B. No. 2013
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to fee waivers for certain hunting and fishing licenses
for volunteer firefighters.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 42.012(b) and (c), Parks and Wildlife
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(b) The commission may set a lower fee or waive the fee or
license requirement for a resident who is under 17 years old, 65
years old or older, or participating in an event that is sponsored
or cosponsored [co-sponsored] by the [Texas] Parks and Wildlife
Department with the approval of the executive director. The
commission shall waive the fee for:
(1) a qualified disabled veteran;
(2) [and for] a resident on active duty as a member of
the United States military forces, the Texas Army National Guard,
the Texas Air National Guard, or the Texas State Guard; and
(3) a volunteer firefighter who has completed at least
one year of continuous service.
(c) In this section:
(1) "Qualified disabled veteran" means a veteran with
a service connected disability, as defined by the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs, consisting of the loss of the use of
a lower extremity or of a disability rating of 50 percent or more
and who is receiving compensation from the United States for the
disability.
(2) "Volunteer firefighter" means a member of a fire
department or firefighting unit who:
(A) actively engages in fire suppression,
rescue, pump operation, or other firefighting activity; and
(B) receives not more than $5,000 in total
compensation during a tax year from the fire department or
firefighting unit that the firefighter serves.
SECTION 2. Section 46.004(c), Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(c) The commission shall waive the fee for:
(1) a qualified disabled veteran as defined by Section
42.012;
(2) [and for] a resident on active duty as a member of
the United States military forces, the Texas Army National Guard,
the Texas Air National Guard, or the Texas State Guard; and
(3) a volunteer firefighter as defined by Section
42.012 who has completed at least one year of continuous service.
SECTION 3. Section 50.002, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) The commission shall waive the fee for an annual
combination resident hunting and fishing license for a volunteer
firefighter as defined by Section 42.012 who has completed at least
one year of continuous service.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.