Bill Text: TX SB820 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Engrossed

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Relating to the management, breeding, and destruction of deer and to procedures regarding certain deer permits.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 6-1)

Status: (Passed) 2013-05-18 - Effective on 9/1/13 [SB820 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-SB820-Engrossed.html

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By: Williams, Campbell S.B. No. 820

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to procedures relating to the issuance and renewal of, and
certain notice requirements associated with, certain deer permits.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subsection (b), Section 12.501, Parks and
Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:
(b) Except as provided by Subchapter G, the [The] director
may suspend or revoke an original or renewal permit or license
issued under this code if it is found, after notice and hearing,
that:
(1) the permittee or licensee has been finally
convicted of a violation of this code or proclamation or regulation
adopted under this code relating to the permit or license to be
suspended or revoked;
(2) the permittee or licensee violated a provision of
this code or proclamation or regulation adopted under this code
relating to the permit or license to be suspended or revoked;
(3) the permittee or licensee made a false or
misleading statement in connection with the permittee's or
licensee's [his] original or renewal application, either in the
formal application itself or in any other written instrument
relating to the application submitted to the commission or its
officers or employees;
(4) the permittee or licensee is indebted to the state
for taxes, fees, or payment of penalties imposed by this code or by
a commission rule relating to a permit or license to be suspended or
revoked; or
(5) the permittee or licensee is liable to the state
under Section 12.301.
SECTION 2. Section 12.506, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) This section does not apply to a permit to which
Subchapter G applies.
SECTION 3. Subsection (b), Section 12.508, Parks and
Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:
(b) Except as provided by Subchapter G, the [The] department
may refuse to issue or transfer an original or renewal license,
permit, or tag if the applicant or transferee:
(1) has been finally convicted of a violation under
this code or a rule adopted or a proclamation issued under this
code;
(2) is liable to the state under Section 12.301; and
(3) has failed to fully pay the amount due under
Section 12.301 after the department has issued notice of liability
to the applicant or transferee.
SECTION 4. Chapter 12, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended
by adding Subchapter G to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER G. REFUSAL TO ISSUE OR RENEW AND APPEAL OF CERTAIN
DECISIONS REGARDING CERTAIN PERMITS RELATING TO THE CONTROL,
BREEDING, OR MANAGEMENT OF DEER
Sec. 12.601. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. This subchapter
applies only to the following permits:
(1) a trap, transport, and transplant permit under
Section 43.061 or 43.0611;
(2) a trap, transport, and process permit under
Section 43.0612;
(3) a deer breeder's permit under Subchapter L,
Chapter 43;
(4) a white-tailed deer management permit under
Subchapter R, Chapter 43; and
(5) a mule deer management permit under Subchapter
R-1, Chapter 43.
Sec. 12.602. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Applicant" means a person who has applied for a
new or renewal permit.
(2) "Final conviction" means a final judgment of
guilt, the granting of deferred adjudication or pretrial diversion,
or the entering of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere.
(3) "Permittee" means a person to whom a permit has
been issued, including each member of a partnership or association,
an agent acting on behalf of a partnership or association, each
officer of a corporation, and the owner of a majority of a
corporation's corporate stock.
Sec. 12.603. GENERAL CIRCUMSTANCES FOR REFUSAL TO ISSUE OR
RENEW PERMIT. The department may refuse to issue or renew a permit
if the applicant fails to submit in a timely manner the following:
(1) a completed application on a form supplied by the
department and all application materials required by the
department;
(2) the required permit fee;
(3) accurate reports as applicable; and
(4) any additional information that the department
determines is necessary to process the application.
Sec. 12.604. REFUSAL TO ISSUE OR RENEW PERMIT BASED ON
CERTAIN PENALTIES OR CONVICTIONS. (a) This section applies only
to a determination of whether to issue a permit to or renew a permit
for an applicant who has a final conviction or has been assessed an
administrative penalty for a violation of:
(1) Subchapter C, E, L, R, or R-1, Chapter 43;
(2) a provision of this code not described by
Subdivision (1) that is punishable as a Class A or B Parks and
Wildlife Code misdemeanor, a Parks and Wildlife Code state jail
felony, or a Parks and Wildlife Code felony;
(3) Section 63.002; or
(4) the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C.
Sections 3371-3378).
(b) In determining whether to issue a permit to or renew a
permit for an applicant who has a final conviction or has been
assessed an administrative penalty, the department shall consider:
(1) the number of convictions or administrative
penalties and the seriousness of each conviction;
(2) the existence, number, and seriousness of offenses
or violations other than offenses or violations that resulted in a
final conviction or administrative penalty described by Subsection
(a);
(3) the length of time between the most recent final
conviction or administrative penalty and the permit application;
(4) whether the final conviction, administrative
penalty, or other offense or violation was the result of negligence
or intentional conduct;
(5) the applicant's efforts toward rehabilitation;
(6) the accuracy of the permit history information
provided by the applicant; and
(7) other mitigating factors.
Sec. 12.605. PROCEDURE FOR REFUSAL TO ISSUE OR RENEW
PERMIT. (a) Not later than the 10th day after the date a decision
to refuse to issue or renew a permit has been made, the department
shall provide to the applicant a written statement of the reasons
for the decision.
(b) The commission by rule shall adopt procedures
consistent with this subchapter for the department's review of a
refusal to issue or renew a permit.
Sec. 12.606. REVIEW OF REFUSAL TO ISSUE OR RENEW PERMIT. In
conducting a review of a decision by the department to refuse to
issue or renew a permit, the department shall consider:
(1) whether the conduct on which the refusal is based
was negligent or intentional;
(2) for a refusal based on conduct that is a violation
of a provision listed in Section 12.604(a), whether the applicant
has a final conviction or has been assessed an administrative
penalty based on the conduct;
(3) the seriousness of an offense or violation
described by Subdivision (2) for which the applicant was finally
convicted or assessed an administrative penalty;
(4) whether the conduct on which the refusal was based
was committed or omitted by the applicant, an agent of the
applicant, or both;
(5) for a renewal, whether the applicant agreed to any
special conditions recommended by the department in lieu of a
decision to refuse to issue or renew the expiring permit;
(6) whether there is a substantial likelihood that the
applicant would repeat the conduct on which the refusal is based;
(7) whether the conduct on which the refusal is based
involved a threat to public safety; and
(8) other mitigating factors.
Sec. 12.607. APPEAL OF DEPARTMENT DECISION TO REVOKE,
SUSPEND, OR REFUSE PERMIT. (a) Except as provided by this
section, the revocation or suspension of a permit is governed by
Subchapter F.
(b) Venue for appealing a decision of the department
refusing to issue or renew a permit or revoking or suspending a
permit is a district court in Travis County.
(c) The appeal shall be by trial de novo.
SECTION 5. Subchapter L, Chapter 43, Parks and Wildlife
Code, is amended by adding Section 43.370 to read as follows:
Sec. 43.370. NOTICE OF DEPARTMENT DESTRUCTION OR REMOVAL OF
DEER. (a) The department must provide notice to a deer breeder
before the department destroys or removes any breeder deer from a
facility permitted under this subchapter.
(b) A notice provided under this section must be sent by
certified mail to the last known address of the deer breeder and
must contain:
(1) a short statement identifying the specific deer to
be destroyed or removed;
(2) the approximate date of destruction or removal,
which may not be sooner than the 10th day after the date of the
notice; and
(3) the reasons for the destruction or removal.
(c) The deer breeder may waive the 10-day waiting period
required under Subsection (b)(2).
SECTION 6. Subchapter R, Chapter 43, Parks and Wildlife
Code, is amended by adding Section 43.6055 to read as follows:
Sec. 43.6055. NOTICE OF DEPARTMENT DESTRUCTION OR REMOVAL
OF DEER. (a) The department must provide notice to a permit holder
before the department destroys or removes any deer from the acreage
covered by the permit.
(b) A notice provided under this section must be sent by
certified mail to the last known address of the permit holder and
must contain:
(1) a short statement identifying the specific deer to
be destroyed or removed;
(2) the approximate date of destruction or removal,
which may not be sooner than the 10th day after the date of the
notice; and
(3) the reasons for the destruction or removal.
(c) The permit holder may waive the 10-day waiting period
required under Subsection (b)(2).
SECTION 7. Subchapter R-1, Chapter 43, Parks and Wildlife
Code, is amended by adding Section 43.6255 to read as follows:
Sec. 43.6255. NOTICE OF DEPARTMENT DESTRUCTION OR REMOVAL
OF DEER. (a) The department must provide notice to a permit holder
before the department destroys or removes any deer from the acreage
covered by the permit.
(b) A notice provided under this section must be sent by
certified mail to the last known address of the permit holder and
must contain:
(1) a short statement identifying the specific deer to
be destroyed or removed;
(2) the approximate date of destruction or removal,
which may not be sooner than the 10th day after the date of the
notice; and
(3) the reasons for the destruction or removal.
(c) The permit holder may waive the 10-day waiting period
required under Subsection (b)(2).
SECTION 8. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of
this section, the changes in law made by this Act apply only to a
permit to which Subchapter G, Chapter 12, Parks and Wildlife Code,
as added by this Act, applies that is issued or renewed on or after
the effective date of this Act. A permit issued or renewed before
the effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed
immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is
continued in effect for that purpose.
(b) Section 12.607, Parks and Wildlife Code, as added by
this Act, applies only to an appeal from a decision of the Parks and
Wildlife Department refusing to issue or renew a permit or revoking
or suspending a permit that is filed on or after the effective date
of this Act. An appeal filed before the effective date of this Act
is governed by the law in effect on the date the appeal was filed,
and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.