If you're not disgusted, Its only because you haven't been paying attention. 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.



If you don't get on the phone and register a complaint, you are actually hurting us. With herpers represented by a small number of people, every call counts as if you were 300 voters!!! Please call and complain.

Here is an example of what I read to the person who answered the phone and left on my message:



Concerning Section 43 and Bill 12

Dear Governor,

As a Texas citizen, I am requesting that you do not sign bill 12, section 43.

A rider has been attached that prohibits hunting from the roadway. Herpetologists worked with Rep. Islett for two months to create an exemption for reptile, amphibian, and invertebrate collection, but this exemption has been omitted from the current rider.

Many people use reptiles, amphibians and insects as teaching aides, engaging lesson starters, and as classroom pets. In many classrooms, teachers use only Texas native creatures, most which are legally and carefully collected and housed in safe environments. Each year, herpers purchase hunting licenses and spend many hours cruising secondary roads in search of reptiles and amphibians, for photographic and population voucher documentation.

One of the only places to collect native specimens is on Texas roadways, as most of Texas land is off-limits to naturalists as privately owned property. Many scientists and graduate students use this technique for official documentation of range and population densities, and accept amateur vouchers as well. Herpers harm nothing and cause no safety risks.

In short, I believe that the bill in its present wording is unacceptable.

Please either do not sign the bill or veto it.

Thanks,



History: Bill 2414 which tried to outlaw road hunting was amended to exclude herpers from the law. However, it was shelved and never dealt with....Until the ORIGINAL wording which does not exclude herpers was attached as a rider to Bill 12. Bill 12 skated through Texas Congress.

In other words, if the governor signs this bill, we are officially illegal as road hunters.



A similar circumstance happened with the bill that deals with a ban on keeping exotics. See below.



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





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.



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

__________________

-Jack K Jeansonne
-----
V.P.

Austin Herp. Soc.

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• OUTRAGE!! - Shaky, Thu May 31 15:56:50 2007