Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

___________________S TATE
FFAIRS/GeneralGeneral
TATE AFFAIRS
77 th Texas Legislature
Regulation of Dangerous Wild Animals - H.B. 1362
by Representative Goodman, et al.
Senate Sponsor: Senator Harris
Sets up a new system of regulating dangerous wild animals by giving regulatory authority to municipal and
county authorities. Provides a list of animals that are considered to be dangerous and wild, and provides
that certain types of wild animal possession are excepted from the act.
Requires a possessor of a dangerous wild animal to register and receive a certificate of registration with an
animal registration agency. Provides a list of the information to be included in an application for registration
and other requirements regarding the registration certificate.
Requires an owner of a dangerous wild animal to maintain liability insurance coverage in an amount not
less than $100,000.
Requires an owner to notify the animal registration agency within a certain time period of any attack on a
human and provides that the owner of an animal that escapes is liable for all costs incurred in
apprehending and confining the animal.
Provides other requirements and standards regarding liability, registration, powers of a board, caging
requirements, care, treatment, and transportation of an animal
Makes a violation of this act a Class C misdemeanor. Provides that it is an offense if a person knowingly
sells or otherwise transfers ownership of a dangerous wild animal to a person who does not have a
certificate of registration as required in the bill. Provides a civil penalty ranging from $200 to $2,000 for
failure to obtain a registration certificate.
Driver’s License Related Transactions - H.B. 1762
by Representative Green
Senate Sponsor: Senator Armbrister
The Department of Public Safety (DPS) is currently authorized to adopt rules to allow driver's license or
personal identification card applicants to pay certain fees by mail, telephone, Internet, or electric transaction
(other means) in an effort to minimize the wait in driver's license offices and reduce the inconvenience to
the public. However, the current statute may be too specific to allow other transactions.
Authorizes the expansion of DPS's e-commerce business process to allow persons to apply for duplicate
driver's licenses and submit requests for information by other means.
Homestead Property and Constitutionally Correct Credit Extensions - H.B. 1995
by Representative Marchant
Senate Sponsor: Senator Carona
The Texas Constitution has historically provided protection for property declared to be a primary residence,
or a homestead property, and allowed for certain encumbrances on this property, as well certain extensions
of credit such as a reverse mortgage.
Senate Research Center 278