Dirty politics has won! Both house bills concerning herps were added to another bill that wasn't contested. We need to call the governors office about this. Contact numbers below.
Tim Cole
(512) 83-SNAKE
www.DesignerAtrox.com
www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
www.AustinReptileService.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<><
Conservation through Education
SECTION 41. Chapter 43, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended
by adding Subchapter V to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER V. NONINDIGENOUS SNAKE PERMIT
Sec. 43.851. PERMIT. (a) The commission by rule shall
establish permits that allow permit holders to possess or transport in this state a live nonindigenous:
(1) venomous snake; or
(2) constrictor that is one of the following:
(A) African rock python, Python sebae;
(B) Asiatic rock python, Python molurus;
(C) green anaconda, Eunectes murinus;
(D) reticulated python, Python reticulatus; or
(E) southern African python, Python natalensis.
(b) The commission shall establish separate permits for
recreational and commercial purposes.
(c) A permit under this subchapter is not required for:
(1) a state or county official performing an official duty;
(2) a licensed zoo that possesses or transports a
snake for exhibition or scientific purposes;
(3) a research facility, including a university,
licensed under the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. Section 2131 et seq.) that possesses or transports a snake for scientific purposes; or
(4) a person who assists a department employee in the
handling or transport of a snake under this subchapter.
(d) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a person may not
possess or transport in this state a snake described by Subsection(a) without a permit issued by the department under thissubchapter.
(e) A person convicted of a violation of this subchapter or
a rule adopted under this subchapter may not obtain a permit before the fifth anniversary of the date of the conviction.
SECTION 43. Section 62.001, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended by adding Subdivision (3) to read as follows:
(3) "Public road or right-of-way" means a public street, alley, road, right-of-way, or other public way, including a berm, ditch, or shoulder.
SECTION 44. Subchapter A, Chapter 62, Parks and Wildlife
Code, is amended by adding Section 62.0031 to read as follows:
Sec. 62.0031. HUNTING FROM PUBLIC ROAD OR RIGHT-OF-WAY PROHIBITED. (
a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a person may not hunt a wild animal or bird when the person is on a public road or right-of-way.
(b) This section does not apply to the trapping of a raptor
for educational or sporting purposes as provided by Chapter 49.
Texas House Bill 12
Rick Perry's Office numbers are:
# Citizen's Assistance Hotline: (800) 843-5789
[for Texas callers]
# Citizen's Opinion Hotline: (800) 252-9600
[for Texas callers]
# Citizen's Assistance and Opinion Hotline: (512) 463-1782
[for Austin, Texas and out-of-state callers]
# Office of the Governor Main Switchboard: (512) 463-2000