HBA-NLM H.B. 1868 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1868 By: Farrar County Affairs 3/19/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, a commissioners court of a county has the authority to prohibit or regulate the keeping of wild animals. Texas statute does not expressly authorize the county to impose a fee to license or permit the keeping of such wild animals. This bill authorizes a commissioners court to charge a fee for permitting dangerous wild animals. H.B. 1868 expands the definition of "wild animal" by including a lion, tiger, ocelot, cougar, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and other nondomestic animals. This bill authorizes the commissioners court to establish a fee for each wild animal regulated under this subchapter to recover the costs associated with that regulation. In addition, this bill authorizes the county to use the fees collected for administrative purposes. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 240.001, Local Government Code, to redefine "wild animal." SECTION 2. Amends Sections 240.002 and 240.0025, Local Government Code, by reenacting as Section 240.002, as follows: Sec. 240.002. REGULATION. Authorizes the commissioners court of a county by order to prohibit or regulate the keeping of a wild animal in the county. Provides that this order does not apply inside the limits of a municipality or to a certain licensed exhibitor. Deletes existing Sections 240.0025(a) and (b) and redesignates text to this section. Deletes definition of "wild animal." SECTION 3. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 240, Local Government Code, by adding Section 240.0025, as follows: Sec. 240.0025. FEES. Authorizes the commissioners court of a county to establish a fee for each wild animal regulated under this subchapter to recover the costs associated with that regulation. Authorizes collection of the fee only from the person who keeps a wild animal subject to this subchapter and prohibits the total fees from exceeding $500 per person. Authorizes the county to use the fees collected under this section for the purposes of administering this subchapter. SECTION 4. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.