| 1 | 1 | | 88R746 BEE-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Bailes H.B. No. 641 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to a fishing license fee waiver for certain residents. |
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| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Sections 46.004(b) and (c), Parks and Wildlife |
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| 10 | 10 | | Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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| 11 | 11 | | (b) The commission may establish a lower fee or waive the |
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| 12 | 12 | | fee or license requirement for: |
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| 13 | 13 | | (1) a resident who has a general commercial |
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| 14 | 14 | | fisherman's license of this state; |
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| 15 | 15 | | (2) a resident who is a blind person as defined by |
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| 16 | 16 | | Section 355.001 [94.001], Labor [Human Resources] Code; |
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| 17 | 17 | | (3) a resident or nonresident who is under 17 years |
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| 18 | 18 | | old; or |
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| 19 | 19 | | (4) a resident who is at least 65 years old but younger |
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| 20 | 20 | | than 85 years old or a nonresident who is 65 years old or over. |
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| 21 | 21 | | (c) The commission shall waive the fee for: |
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| 22 | 22 | | (1) a qualified veteran with a disability as defined |
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| 23 | 23 | | by Section 42.012; |
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| 24 | 24 | | (2) [and for] a resident on active duty as a member of |
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| 25 | 25 | | the United States military forces, the Texas Army National Guard, |
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| 26 | 26 | | the Texas Air National Guard, or the Texas State Guard; and |
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| 27 | 27 | | (3) a resident who is 85 years old or over. |
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| 28 | 28 | | SECTION 2. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies |
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| 29 | 29 | | only to a fee charged for a fishing license issued on or after the |
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| 30 | 30 | | effective date of this Act. |
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| 31 | 31 | | (b) The Parks and Wildlife Department is not required to |
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| 32 | 32 | | issue a refund for a license issued before the effective date of |
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| 33 | 33 | | this Act. |
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| 34 | 34 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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