H.B. No. 1728
AN ACT
relating to partnerships between the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department and nonprofit entities to promote hunting and fishing by
certain veterans.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter J, Chapter 11, Parks and Wildlife
Code, is amended by adding Section 11.208 to read as follows:
Sec. 11.208. PARTNERSHIP WITH NONPROFIT SERVING VETERANS.
(a) In this section, "veteran" means a person who has served in the
United States armed forces.
(b) The department may select and cooperate with one or more
nonprofit partners that exclusively serve veterans to promote
hunting and fishing by those veterans. A selection under this
section must be approved by the commission.
(c) A veteran who is a resident of this state and who is
served by a nonprofit selected under Subsection (b) may:
(1) hunt on one day without holding a hunting license
required under Chapter 42 if accompanied by a representative of the
nonprofit partner who holds the appropriate license; and
(2) fish on one day without holding a fishing license
required under Chapter 46 if accompanied by a representative of the
nonprofit partner who holds the appropriate license.
(d) The commission by rule shall establish:
(1) criteria under which the department may select a
nonprofit partner under this section; and
(2) guidelines under which a representative of or a
veteran served by a nonprofit partner may engage in hunting or
fishing activities under this section.
SECTION 2. The heading to Section 42.002, Parks and
Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 42.002. RESIDENT LICENSE REQUIRED; EXEMPTIONS
[EXEMPTION].
SECTION 3. Section 42.002, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to
read as follows:
(a) Except as provided by Subsections (b), [and] (c), and
(d) [of this section], no resident may hunt any bird or animal in
this state without having acquired a hunting license.
(d) A person who is a resident and who is a veteran of the
United States armed forces is not required to have a license issued
under this section if the person is acting under Section 11.208 and
complying with rules adopted under that section.
SECTION 4. Section 46.002(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) A license issued under this chapter is not required of a
person:
(1) who is a resident and whose birth date is before
January 1, 1931;
(2) who is a nonresident, if the person's birth date is
before September 1, 1930, and the person's state of residence
grants a similar age exemption to Texas residents;
(3) who is mentally disabled and who is engaging in
recreational fishing as part of medically approved therapy, and who
is fishing under the immediate supervision of personnel approved or
employed by a hospital, residence, or school for mentally disabled
persons;
(4) who is mentally retarded and is engaged in
recreational fishing under the immediate supervision of a person
who:
(A) holds a license issued under this chapter;
and
(B) has the permission of the mentally retarded
person's family head or legal guardian to take the mentally
retarded person fishing if the person is not a member of the family
of the mentally retarded person; [or]
(5) who is participating in an event that is sponsored
or co-sponsored by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department with the
approval of the Executive Director; or
(6) who is a resident and who is a veteran of the
United States armed forces, if the person is acting under Section
11.208 and complying with rules adopted under that section.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1728 was passed by the House on April
14, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 147, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1728 was passed by the Senate on May
19, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor