H.B. No. 547

	AN ACT
	relating to verification of hunting and fishing license
	information.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 42.006, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 42.006.  POSSESSION OF LICENSE;[:] RULES. (a) The
	commission by rule may prescribe requirements relating to
	possessing a license issued under this chapter.
	(b)  Rules adopted under Subsection (a) must allow for a
	person to present for the purpose of verification of possession a
	hunting license as an image displayed on a wireless communication
	device. The image displayed may be either an image of information
	from the Internet website of the department or a photograph of a
	hunting license.
	(c)  The display of an image that includes hunting license
	information on a wireless communication device under this section
	does not constitute effective consent for a law enforcement
	officer, or any other person, to access the contents of the wireless
	communication device except to view the hunting license
	information.
	(d)  The authorization of the use of a wireless communication
	device to display hunting license information under Subsection (b)
	does not prevent a court of competent jurisdiction from requiring a
	person to provide a paper copy of the person's hunting license in a
	hearing or trial or in connection with discovery proceedings.
	(e)  A telecommunications provider, as defined by Section
	51.002, Utilities Code, may not be held liable to the holder of a
	hunting license for the failure of a wireless communication device
	to display hunting license information under Subsection (b).
	SECTION 2.  Section 46.0085, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
	amended by adding Subsections (d), (e), (f), and (g) to read as
	follows:
	(d)  Rules adopted under Subsection (a) must allow for a
	person to present for the purpose of verification of possession a
	fishing license as an image displayed on a wireless communication
	device. The image displayed may be either an image of information
	from the Internet website of the department or a photograph of a
	fishing license.
	(e)  The display of an image that includes fishing license
	information on a wireless communication device under this section
	does not constitute effective consent for a law enforcement
	officer, or any other person, to access the contents of the wireless
	communication device except to view the fishing license
	information.
	(f)  The authorization of the use of a wireless communication
	device to display fishing license information under Subsection (d)
	does not prevent a court of competent jurisdiction from requiring a
	person to provide a paper copy of the person's fishing license in a
	hearing or trial or in connection with discovery proceedings.
	(g)  A telecommunications provider, as defined by Section
	51.002, Utilities Code, may not be held liable to the holder of a
	fishing license for the failure of a wireless communication device
	to display fishing license information under Subsection (d).
	SECTION 3.  Section 50.004, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
	amended by adding Subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f) to read as
	follows:
	(c)  Rules adopted under Subsection (a) must allow for a
	person to present for the purpose of verification of possession a
	combination hunting and fishing license as an image displayed on a
	wireless communication device. The image displayed may be either an
	image of information from the Internet website of the department or
	a photograph of a combination hunting and fishing license.
	(d)  The display of an image that includes combination
	hunting and fishing license information on a wireless communication
	device under this section does not constitute effective consent for
	a law enforcement officer, or any other person, to access the
	contents of the wireless communication device except to view the
	combination hunting and fishing license information.
	(e)  The authorization of the use of a wireless communication
	device to display combination hunting and fishing license
	information under Subsection (c) does not prevent a court of
	competent jurisdiction from requiring a person to provide a paper
	copy of the person's combination hunting and fishing license in a
	hearing or trial or in connection with discovery proceedings.
	(f)  A telecommunications provider, as defined by Section
	51.002, Utilities Code, may not be held liable to the holder of a
	combination hunting and fishing license for the failure of a
	wireless communication device to display combination hunting and
	fishing license information under Subsection (c).
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 547 was passed by the House on March
	27, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 147, Nays 0, 1 present, not
	voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 547 was passed by the Senate on May 3,
	2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED:  _____________________
	Date
	_____________________
	Governor