Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all,
Your help is greatly appreciated. We need to get TX H.B. 1500 (Relating to certain exceptions to the prohibition on hunting from a public road or right-of-way) passed into law.

You can read the text of the bill here:
www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/pdf/HB01500I.pdf

TX H.B. 1500 has been referred to the House Committee on Culture, Recreation, & Tourism. www.house.state.tx.us/committees/list81/430.htm

Right now what we need to do is call, e-mail, or fax each member and register strong support for TX H.B. 1500.

Please be friendly, courteous, and polite. Leave the receptionist your name, address, and phone number, along with your strong support for passing TX H.B. 1500 into law.

Out of State residents are welcome to log support for this bill! Let the receptionists know that you spend your Recreation and Tourism dollars in Texas and this bill directly effects those expenditures.

Here is the contact information for each of those committee members:

CHAIR Representative Mark Homer
Capitol Address
Room 4S.3, Capitol Building
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 463-0650
(512) 463-0575 Fax

VICE CHAIR Representative Donna Howard
Capitol Address
Room E2.810, Capitol Extension
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 463-0631
(512) 463-0901 Fax

MEMBER Representative Dawnna Dukes
Capitol Address
Room E1.504, Capitol Extension
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 463-0506
(512) 463-7864 Fax

MEMBER Representative Tracy O. King
Capitol Address
Room E1.304, Capitol Extension
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 463-0194
(512) 463-1220 Fax

MEMBER Representative Tim Kleinschmidt
Capitol Office
Room EXT E2.702
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 463-0682
(512) 463-9955 Fax

MEMBER Representative Edmund Kuempel
Capitol Office
Room CAP 3N.06
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 463-0602
(512) 480-0391 Fax

MEMBER Representative Brian McCall
Capitol Office
Room 1W.11, Capitol Bld.
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 463-0594
(512) 474-7512 Fax

MEMBER Representative Larry Phillips
Capitol Address
Room E2.604, Capitol Extension
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 463-0297
(512) 463-1561 Fax

MEMBER Representative Kristi Thibaut
Capitol Office
Room E2.404, Capitol Ext.
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 463-0514

I will offer more advice and instructions on how to proceed as the time comes. Right now this is just one step in a multi-step process.

Please note that getting a bill introduced is a very small victory and NO cause for celebration or patting ourselves on the back. What it does represent is the time for the real work to begin.

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Herp Conservation Unlimited
Mexicana Group Directory
Photography by Joseph E. Forks

did a lawyer help write this? it seems to have a few areas that are left open for interpritation, and loop holes. I do however like the closed ended effective date. there just simply isnt enough legal speak involved to make the people on the hill not mess with it. i bet it will be amended a few times once it leaves your hands, eventually they will add you need a scientific permit or written permission that will be impossible to get in order to herp.
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To you im just the crazy snake guy, but to some I'm a 'Herper'.

Eric,
It's far from done. The bill very well could be amended, or it could be attached to another bill as a rider just like 2414 was.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Right now it is what it is, and we are concerned with right now, as in today. When and if it changes we deal with that then.
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Herp Conservation Unlimited
Mexicana Group Directory
Photography by Joseph E. Forks

>>did a lawyer help write this? it seems to have a few areas that are left open for interpritation, and loop holes. I do however like the closed ended effective date. there just simply isnt enough legal speak involved to make the people on the hill not mess with it. i bet it will be amended a few times once it leaves your hands, eventually they will add you need a scientific permit or written permission that will be impossible to get in order to herp.
>>-----
>>To you im just the crazy snake guy, but to some I'm a 'Herper'.

Eric,

This bill was never in our hands. It was written by a state Rep. The bill has been filed by Rep. King, assigned a committee and been read. It's on the way now we have to do our part..
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HCU
Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas

My area of expertise is in a different area, but maybe for the sake of conversation, simplicity is the best approach, where it is at at the moment is 10 times more positive than the past. I appreciate the effort that is going into this, and right now the most important thing is to contact our reps and e-mail, etc. We need to be heard...Cheers! :0)
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www.phrynosoma.org

USARK would like to support this Bill proposal in TX. We will do an email blast to thousands of Herpers, including several hundred Texans, urge action on HB1500. I suggest you use the show in San Antonio this weekend to recruit a lot of support. Hand out flyers with explicit directions on contacting committee members... add email addresses to contact info.

Andrew

>>USARK would like to support this Bill proposal in TX. We will do an email blast to thousands of Herpers, including several hundred Texans, urge action on HB1500. I suggest you use the show in San Antonio this weekend to recruit a lot of support. Hand out flyers with explicit directions on contacting committee members... add email addresses to contact info.
>>
>>Andrew

Andrew,

It would be greatly appreciated. I'm sure Joe will reiterate. I hope we can get something done at the show; maybe a little fund raising even. This is the kind of organization we need to get things done.
Once again, on behalf of a whole bunch of herping Texans and herpers that visit TX, Thanks.
Jason
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HCU
Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas

I've had some TX folks contact me. I'm going to be in communications with the show promoter to try and get something organized.
AW

>>I've had some TX folks contact me. I'm going to be in communications with the show promoter to try and get something organized.
>>AW

Randall and Bonnie have already provided space. I already have all my material printed. I myself will be at the show at the HCU booth all weekend.

Best
Joe
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Herp Conservation Unlimited
Mexicana Group Directory
Photography by Joseph E. Forks

OK.... sounds good Joe! Would y'all like us to do an email blast? i would be happy to round up the committee members email addresses and make it really easy for lots of people to contact the committee and express support for HB1500. Any assistance we can provide is available. i can help you get people to committee hearings as well. i'm pretty sure Dave Barker could be convinced to testify... among others. i would like to get in contact with the leadership at HCU and develop cooperation and synergy between our organizations. what do you think? i'll put out a blast tonight if i hear from you.

Andrew

>>OK.... sounds good Joe! Would y'all like us to do an email blast? i would be happy to round up the committee members email addresses and make it really easy for lots of people to contact the committee and express support for HB1500. Any assistance we can provide is available. i can help you get people to committee hearings as well. i'm pretty sure Dave Barker could be convinced to testify... among others. i would like to get in contact with the leadership at HCU and develop cooperation and synergy between our organizations. what do you think? i'll put out a blast tonight if i hear from you.
>>
>>Andrew

I'm going to e-mail you something right now - two things actually
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Herp Conservation Unlimited
Mexicana Group Directory
Photography by Joseph E. Forks

Joe and All,

Isn't it great when the industry works togther? Isn't it great when we all come together under one umbrella to fight for what is right? USARK's support of all aspects of the industry is a great thing for the industry as a whole. USARK's willingness to help and go to bat for all herpers, both recreational and commercial, is why I am a member of this organization. They are doing things the correct way. They are not selling out folks or leaving behind turtle folks, dealers or collectors. They are a shining example of what we need to be doing to protect ALL industry stakeholders. I support USARK and I will do all I can to help pass TX HB 1500.

Welkerii
El Paso, TX

Hope to see you in Austin on Tuesday, Mike!
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Todd Hughes

Hey Todd,

What is going on in Austin on Tuesday? Either way I can't afford to go. But I will be manning the phones and emailing as well as making sure my Rep. Joe Pickett supports this bill. Good luck in Austin and keep us all updated about we can do to help.

Thanks,

Welkerii

It's late. My post should read "what we can do to help."

Great to have you on Board Mike-HCU and it's members (Wayne Howell, Joe Forks, and Jason Penney among others should be singled out for special kudos!) have made a great start with this bill-hopefully we are now united and can go on to accomplish more great things here in Texas!
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

the Hearing on HB1500 before the Recreation and Tourism Committee.

So please, everyone get your letters/calls/faxes in before that time! And if you can, come to the hearing personally....
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

All,

I have called and emailed each Representative. I will follow up on Monday. How many times do you think we should contact them over the next four days? I will also be sending out an alert to all my customers to take action.

I am doing my part and I would encourage others to put in the effort.

Welkerii
El Paso, TX

>>How many times do you think we should contact them over the next four days?

Mike,
Good question. My assumption is that the more courteous and well reasoned contacts we make, the better. On the other hand, it's possible we could wear out our welcome by being too pushy and annoying. I think we'll just have to remain sensitive and responsive to the reactions from the reps and staffers and adjust our approach accordingly.

Also, despite your personal feeling on commercial collection, it would probably be best (IMO) to avoid that issue when talking to these committee members. It might be different it was the Commerce committee, but the Tourism committee is probably not interested in protecting commercial collecting.

I'm not suggesting that you stop fighting for your cause. I'm just urging a little political consideration and suggesting you focus on the talking points that are most likely to win this battle.

We can't afford to make ANY enemies on this committee. I had one staffer raise the commercial collecting issue. I simply advised her that this ban has little to do with commercial or even private collecting since most herps are simply observed, photographed, and moved off the road (with many more saved than collected). I added that concerns about over collecting would be better addressed by bag limits and by assigning protected status (when justified). I didn't say people should or should not be allowed to collect. Hopefully we can all try to keep that issue out of this fight (and resume our interminable bickering and name calling at a later date -LOL).

one contact per person per Representative in any form, e-mail, fax, phone, or letter is enough at this stage. I can't stress enough the need to be friendly, courteous, and polite, please.
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Herp Conservation Unlimited
Mexicana Group Directory
Photography by Joseph E. Forks

Eby,

I appreciate you informing me about the commercial precautions, however, the fact that I and other folks collect
specimens for researchers, venom labs, zoos, museums and the like is a great
reason to support and pass HB 1500. I have explained to the Reps that the
animals I catch and sell go into the production of human anti-venom, dog
anti-venom, cancer research as well as other life saving and regular
research projects. I also expounded on how the current ban hurts small
businesses like mine. These commercial realities are great arguments for
passing HB 1500. They most certainly want to support life saving research,
regular research and small businesses. That is my angle. I also expounded on
the fact that road collecting has no impact on herp populations because
specimens are collected by chance over many miles of roads. The arguments I
present are logical and good for all involved including the herps. So
although I understand your worry about the commercial aspects they can be
easily used to make the strongest arguments for passing HB 1500. IMHO. I
will keep fighting for what is right. Let me know how I can help.

Welkerii
El Paso, TX

Mike as you know I am a member of HCU. The ammendment, HB1500 is quite neutral on commercial collecting. I don't think there is anything wrong with you stating your reasons for wanting HB1500 to pass and I am glad we have your support. I do think if the numbers of calls to the reps was overwhelmingly from commercial collecters it might cause fear among some in TPWD. But I do not see that happening as in my experience most herpers in West TX are not commercial collecting. I think it is good for all herpers to state their desires and motives honestly.

Aaron,

While I agree, let's not sugar coat it to bad. There are many different people doing many different things. Whether collecting "gas money" snakes or getting a pair of some species to trade to their friend. I think this is a more true statement: Most people who collect herps in west Texas are collecting for personal breeding stock but some collect additional animals for commercial purposes. There are very few people who come to west Texas to collect purely for direct resale to the pet market. To me that sounds a little more accurate. I firmly believe that it is impossible to over collect any herp species in west Texas. As discussed in the post above, the amount collected is a different issue that can be regulated through bag limits if necessary.

Welkerii
El Paso, TX

Eby,

The bill says:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to certain exceptions to the prohibition on hunting from a public road or right-of-way.

This section does not apply to:

(2) the capture, trapping, or hunting of a reptile, amphibian, or insect.

This bill is designed to allow harvest from the roadway. It is important to mention why we are harvesting from the roadway so that folks know why we should be allowed to do it. We can also say that we are capturing specimens for captive propagation which should lead to less pressure on wild populations. We should be telling folks the beneficial reasons to allow this activity. It really doesn't say so we can photograph animals although that is a legitimate reason as well.

I also agree that concerns about over-collecting are best addressed by this statement you made: I added that concerns about over collecting would be better addressed by bag limits and by assigning protected status (when justified).

They are two separte issues and we need to educate folks to this fact. Although I know you, personally, would like collecting left out of this bill, it is the main crux of the bill, and it is aimed at allowing this and we need to make sure they know that it is for viable reasons. And that it has and will be done in a safe manner.

The people who support this bill will do so for many different reasons. We have to realize this and make sure that everything is kept postive and courteous.

Welkerii
El Paso, TX

Hey Joe,

Wrote my letters....but I am still having trouble getting on the HCU site to send a donation.....help! Thanks, G
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G. Merker

GMerk:

Check your email. Info sent.

Cheers,

Bob

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