H.B. No. 1728

	AN ACT
	relating to partnerships between the Texas Parks and Wildlife
	Department and nonprofit entities to promote hunting and fishing by
	certain veterans.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter J, Chapter 11, Parks and Wildlife
	Code, is amended by adding Section 11.208 to read as follows:
	Sec. 11.208.  PARTNERSHIP WITH NONPROFIT SERVING VETERANS.
	(a) In this section, "veteran" means a person who has served in the
	United States armed forces.
	(b)  The department may select and cooperate with one or more
	nonprofit partners that exclusively serve veterans to promote
	hunting and fishing by those veterans. A selection under this
	section must be approved by the commission.
	(c)  A veteran who is a resident of this state and who is
	served by a nonprofit selected under Subsection (b) may:
	(1)  hunt on one day without holding a hunting license
	required under Chapter 42 if accompanied by a representative of the
	nonprofit partner who holds the appropriate license; and
	(2)  fish on one day without holding a fishing license
	required under Chapter 46 if accompanied by a representative of the
	nonprofit partner who holds the appropriate license.
	(d)  The commission by rule shall establish:
	(1)  criteria under which the department may select a
	nonprofit partner under this section; and
	(2)  guidelines under which a representative of or a
	veteran served by a nonprofit partner may engage in hunting or
	fishing activities under this section.
	SECTION 2.  The heading to Section 42.002, Parks and
	Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 42.002.  RESIDENT LICENSE REQUIRED; EXEMPTIONS
	[EXEMPTION].
	SECTION 3.  Section 42.002, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
	amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to
	read as follows:
	(a)  Except as provided by Subsections (b), [and] (c), and
	(d) [of this section], no resident may hunt any bird or animal in
	this state without having acquired a hunting license.
	(d)  A person who is a resident and who is a veteran of the
	United States armed forces is not required to have a license issued
	under this section if the person is acting under Section 11.208 and
	complying with rules adopted under that section.
	SECTION 4.  Section 46.002(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(a)  A license issued under this chapter is not required of a
	person:
	(1)  who is a resident and whose birth date is before
	January 1, 1931;
	(2)  who is a nonresident, if the person's birth date is
	before September 1, 1930, and the person's state of residence
	grants a similar age exemption to Texas residents;
	(3)  who is mentally disabled and who is engaging in
	recreational fishing as part of medically approved therapy, and who
	is fishing under the immediate supervision of personnel approved or
	employed by a hospital, residence, or school for mentally disabled
	persons;
	(4)  who is mentally retarded and is engaged in
	recreational fishing under the immediate supervision of a person
	who:
	(A)  holds a license issued under this chapter;
	and
	(B)  has the permission of the mentally retarded
	person's family head or legal guardian to take the mentally
	retarded person fishing if the person is not a member of the family
	of the mentally retarded person; [or]
	(5)  who is participating in an event that is sponsored
	or co-sponsored by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department with the
	approval of the Executive Director; or
	(6)  who is a resident and who is a veteran of the
	United States armed forces, if the person is acting under Section
	11.208 and complying with rules adopted under that section.
	SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 1728 was passed by the House on April
	14, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 147, Nays 0, 1 present, not
	voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 1728 was passed by the Senate on May
	19, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED:  _____________________
	Date
	_____________________
	Governor