The bill would amend the Parks and Wildlife Code to require a permit for the possession or transport of live, non-indigenous venomous snakes or constrictors in Texas. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) would be required to establish the permit and permit fee, and to issue the permits no later than January 1, 2008.  The bill would take effect September 1, 2007.

 TPWD reports the bill would result in an anticipated revenue gain to the Game, Fish and Water Safety Account No. 9 of $125,000 in each year.

TPWD currently has no regulatory authority concerning non-indigenous venomous snakes and constrictors, and as such, does not maintain statistics regarding the possible number of owners of such snakes. However, based on information received from businesses that sell snakes and constrictors, TPWD estimates that at a minimum, there are roughly 5,000 owners of venomous snakes/constrictors in Texas. Assuming that the permit fee will be established at $25, the new permit will generate a total of $125,000 per year (5,000 permitees x $25 = $125,000). According to TPWD, the department would incur additional costs associated with establishing the new permitting program and processing permit applications.  However, to the extent TPWD would incur additional costs, the fiscal implication to the department is not anticipated to be significant.