H.B. No. 2326
AN ACT
relating to the possession and transportation of certain
nonindigenous snakes; increasing a criminal penalty.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 43.851(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) The commission by rule shall establish permits that
allow permit holders to possess or transport in this state a live
nonindigenous snake, including a hybrid of any kind, that is:
(1) venomous [snake]; or
(2) a constrictor that is one of the following:
(A) African rock python, Python sebae;
(B) Asiatic rock python, Python molurus;
(C) Burmese python, Python bivittatus;
(D) green anaconda, Eunectes murinus;
(E) [(D)] reticulated python, Python
reticulatus; or
(F) [(E)] southern African python, Python
natalensis.
SECTION 2. Section 43.856, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to
read as follows:
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) or (c), a person
who violates this subchapter or a rule adopted under this
subchapter commits an offense that is a Class C Parks and Wildlife
Code misdemeanor.
(c) If it is shown at the trial of the defendant for a
violation of this subchapter or a rule adopted under this
subchapter that the defendant has engaged in a commercial activity
without holding a required permit and the defendant has been
previously convicted of a violation of this subchapter or a rule
adopted under this subchapter, on conviction the defendant shall be
punished for a Class B Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2326 was passed by the House on April
16, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 141, Nays 4, 2 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 2326 on May 24, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 117, Nays 28,
1 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2326 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 19, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays
0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor