| 1 | 1 | | 88R14745 MP-D |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Gervin-Hawkins H.B. No. 3489 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | relating to the use of an unmanned aircraft to locate and retrieve |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | wounded or killed wildlife. |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 62, Parks and Wildlife |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | Code, is amended by adding Section 62.0115 to read as follows: |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 62.0115. USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT FOR LOCATING AND |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | RETRIEVING WOUNDED OR KILLED WILDLIFE. (a) To the extent permitted |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | by federal law, a person may use an unmanned aircraft to assist in |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | locating and retrieving wounded or killed wildlife on private land. |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | The unmanned aircraft must be operated in compliance with: |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | (1) each applicable Federal Aviation Administration |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | rule, restriction, or exemption; and |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | (2) all required Federal Aviation Administration |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | authorizations. |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | (b) The commission may adopt rules as necessary to |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | administer this section, except that the commission may not adopt a |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | rule that requires a person to hold an authorization issued by the |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | department or commission to use an unmanned aircraft as described |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | by Subsection (a). |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
|---|