Bill Text: TX HR2597 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Requesting the speaker of the house to create a select interim committee to study regulatory oversight of the deer breeding industry.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-05-24 - Referred to Agriculture & Livestock [HR2597 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HR2597-Introduced.html
83R30157 BPG-D | ||
By: Kuempel | H.R. No. 2597 |
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WHEREAS, Texas is home to the largest population of | ||
white-tailed deer in the nation, and deer breeding and hunting make | ||
important contributions to the state's economy; and | ||
WHEREAS, A Texas A&M University study conducted in 2007 found | ||
that deer breeding and ranching generated over $650 million | ||
annually and supported more than 7,300 jobs; as land ownership | ||
becomes increasingly fragmented, deer breeding is particularly | ||
well suited to the utilization of smaller tracts, and the industry | ||
is now one of the fastest growing in rural America; by 2012, Texas | ||
had permitted over 1,200 breeder facilities containing over 100,000 | ||
breeder deer in nearly 200 counties; and | ||
WHEREAS, Disease issues that arise in the deer industry are | ||
handled by the Texas Animal Health Commission, but most industry | ||
activities fall under the purview of the wildlife division of the | ||
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; although TPWD is noted for its | ||
vast knowledge of wildlife biology, it is the TAHC that maintains | ||
expertise in agriculture, animal husbandry, and related matters of | ||
genetics, health, nutrition, breeding, and marketability; | ||
moreover, the TAHC manages certain breeds of cervid animals, | ||
including red deer and sika deer; and | ||
WHEREAS, Properly managing this growing industry is of | ||
long-term importance, and an in-depth consideration of relevant | ||
issues would be beneficial to this state; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas | ||
Legislature hereby request the speaker of the house to create a | ||
select interim committee to study regulatory oversight of the deer | ||
breeding industry in order to ensure that the industry is served by | ||
the state agency tasked with promoting and ensuring animal health | ||
and productivity; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That the study include recommendations on measures | ||
to ensure the vitality of the industry and encompass assurances | ||
that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will remain involved | ||
in the industry through its responsibility for issuing hunting | ||
licenses and providing game wardens; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That the committee submit a full report, including | ||
findings and recommendations for legislation, to the speaker and | ||
the members of the house of the 84th Texas Legislature when it | ||
convenes in January 2015. |