Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

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NATURAL RESOURCES/General
77 th Texas Legislature
Requires TPWD and THC to form a joint panel to establish criteria for determining whether a site is of
statewide significance and to promote the continuity and development of a historic sites program.
Requires TPWD, if practicable, to apportion at least 15 percent of funds it receives from the proceeds of the
sale bonds issued under Section 50-f, Article III, of the Texas Constitution to specific park maintenance or
improvement projects for which matching private or local money has been made available to TPWD. This
takes effect only if the constitutional amendment proposed by H.J.R. No. 97, enacted by the 77 th
Legislature, is approved by the voters.
Authorizes TPWC to create of a program for the continuing identification and classification of participants in
the vessel and outboard motor industries doing business in this state and to set fees to administer this
provision. Requires TPWD to use information from the program to appoint authorized agents to act as the
TPWD’s agent for issuing certain certificates and collecting certain fees and taxes related to boats.
Expands existing notice provisions requiring that when a person desires to kill protected wildlife causing
serious damage to property or threatening public safety to provide that the person give written notice to the
mayor of the municipality in which the damage or threat occurs.
Changes provisions regarding certificates of location for oyster beds. Raises the maximum amount of
acres of land covered by water under such certificates from 100 to 300 and provides that a person who
does not own, lease, or control more than 300 acres of land may act as an agent for persons who, in the
aggregate, own, lease, or control more than 300 acres. Sets forth fee provisions Sets a term of 15 years
for a rental lease for a location and sets out renewal procedures. Requires TPWC to determine procedures
for reissuance of a lease when the lease is sold or otherwise transferred and sets out what these
procedures must include. Strikes provisions allowing holder of oyster permit to mark boundaries with
stakes or fences.
Requires TPWD to comprehensively study shrimp resources and the shrimp industry. The status of the
study must be reported to TPWC, the presiding officer of each house of the legislature, and the committees
of each house having primary oversight jurisdiction over TPWD. Requires TPWC to base shrimping
policies and rules on the results of the most recent study. TPWD must complete this study not later than
September 1, 2002.
Authorizes TPWD, in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation and local governments, to
use obsolete bridges, tunnels, and causeways to create artificial reefs.
Regulation of Texas Oyster Industry - S.B. 858
by Senator Bernsen
House Sponsor: Representative Zbranek
Requires the comptroller to compare payment made by a certified shellfish dealer for harvesting, handling,
purchasing, or processing oysters to payment collected by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for
oyster barrel purchases. A discrepancy reflecting underreporting of harvested oysters results in a prima
facie violation of the law.
Provides for distributing information to food handlers and restaurant personnel about safe handling of
oysters to promote the oyster industry.
Senate Research Center 220