Bill Text: TX HB798 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Relating to a task force to study methods to prevent the theft of desert plants.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-05-11 - Postponed [HB798 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HB798-Comm_Sub.html
| 84R18745 BEF-F | |||
| By: González, Márquez | H.B. No. 798 | ||
| Substitute the following for H.B. No. 798: | |||
| By: Rinaldi | C.S.H.B. No. 798 | ||
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| relating to a task force to study methods to prevent the theft of | ||
| desert plants. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, is amended by | ||
| adding Section 12.052 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 12.052. STUDY OF METHODS TO PREVENT DESERT PLANT | ||
| THEFT. (a) Not later than December 1, 2015, the commissioner shall | ||
| appoint a task force to study methods to prevent the theft of desert | ||
| plants from private property, including the following genera of | ||
| plants: | ||
| (1) Agave; | ||
| (2) Ariocarpus; | ||
| (3) Echinocactus; | ||
| (4) Echinocereus; | ||
| (5) Ferocactus; | ||
| (6) Fouquieria; | ||
| (7) Mammillaria; and | ||
| (8) Yucca. | ||
| (b) The task force shall study the sale and transportation | ||
| of desert plants and methods to prevent the theft of desert plants | ||
| from private property. The task force may study the feasibility and | ||
| effectiveness of: | ||
| (1) implementing registration requirements for | ||
| persons who sell or transport desert plants; | ||
| (2) requiring persons who sell or transport desert | ||
| plants to enter into a compliance agreement with a state agency; | ||
| (3) requiring persons who sell or transport desert | ||
| plants to document the origin of the plants; | ||
| (4) authorizing a state agency to issue stop-sale | ||
| orders regarding or to seize desert plants that do not comply with | ||
| legal requirements; | ||
| (5) imposing civil, criminal, or administrative | ||
| penalties for persons who steal desert plants and for persons who | ||
| fail to comply with legal requirements governing the sale or | ||
| transportation of desert plants; and | ||
| (6) taking any other action to regulate the sale or | ||
| transportation of desert plants and prevent the theft of desert | ||
| plants, as determined by the task force. | ||
| (c) Not later than December 1, 2016, the task force shall | ||
| submit to the house committees on agriculture and livestock and | ||
| appropriations a report that includes recommendations for | ||
| legislation to regulate the sale or transportation of desert plants | ||
| and prevent the theft of desert plants from private property. | ||
| (d) This section expires December 31, 2016. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
| a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
| provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
| Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
| Act takes effect September 1, 2015. | ||
