The committee hearing is happening now. Watch and listen to your fellow herpers defend your hobby.
Watch it real time at the below link (LiveStream 2 -use RealPlayer)
http://www.house.state.tx.us/media/welcome.php
If you miss it live, I'll link to the archived recording as soon as it is available.
UPDATES:
There is other pending business, two other bills being considered, and some general testimony and Q&A from Parks & Wildlife. We're at 17 minutes 45 seconds into the hearing now and just now getting started on our bill.
Rep Tracy Kings into went over very well and was followed by laughter at the expense of another rep that appears fearful.
Major Sinclair (TPWD) is now talking about how the road should be a "sanctuary". He's responding to Q&A now.
Sinclair is now suggesting collecting on private land and mentioned opening state parks to herping is a "possibility" -yeah right -he was just dodging a question.
Sinclair is saying hunting from a vehicle has always and still will be illegal. He and the reps are now discussing if there should be clarification on this issue and establishing guidelines such as parking, reflective vest, spotlights, etc. It sounds like Sinclair is OK with this law and is just looking for guidance from the legislators on related enforcement concerns.
One of the reps brought up the economic impact.
Another rep is asking how warden can possibly enforce this if they don't see the capture. Sinclair acknowledge it's difficult for LE to prove.
Troy Hibbits is now speaking. Go Troy! He's laying out our case in classic Hibbits form. Talking about family herping, sport, recreation, safety, types of road & ROW herping and WHY, lack of access to private or even public land, prevalence of release over capture, comparing risk of traditional hunting and flower photography compared to herping, asking why P&W advocates some roadside herping when it benefits them, pointing out that traffic codes already deal with unsafe practices, talking about how he and his family spends thousands of dollars herping and went out of state due to the ban, pointing out one hotel losing $25k in lost herping guests, pointing out that roadside collecting has a negligible impact, pointing out that exposure to the public should be encouraged not outlawed.
Roy Engledorf is now speaking as a herper and a hotel owner (Outback Oasis). Talking about how he DOUBLED the income at his hotel by catering to herpers and how HE lost $25K due to herpers leaving the area. Explaining how in 2003 TPWD altered their enforcement to allow herping from a vehicle. Tactfully challenged the idea the the roads are a "Sanctuary".
One of the reps is asking if he can amend the bill to have IMMEDIATE EFFECT instead of waiting til Sept 1. Excellent.
Another rep is saying her husband and kids have collected and asking what herpers do with the herps. He answered most are released, others are rescued from the road, some collect.
Another rep asking about recording keeping and tracking of sitings. Answer YES.
Another rep asking about the "challenge" and recognition for success. These reps seem truly intrigued.
Tim Cole is now speaking. He's explaining all about "rock cuts" and the simple joy of being out in west Texas. Recounting meeting people from all over the world out in west Texas. Explaining the divide between hobbyist and commercial collectors and how commercial collectors are shunned.
Lisa Willowman? is now talking. Explaining that her disability keeps her from many activities but that road herping allows her to get out and enjoy nature. Relating too the reps about how she used to be seriously afraid of snakes but now likes them.
Matt Wagner from P&W is now talking. He's recognizing us a "users" (in a good way LOL) and how Texas herps create considerable interest in Texas. Talking about breeder/collectors and that they are regulated and monitored.
Reading off list of folks there in support but not testifying. Stumbled on Andrew Price and realized he DOES want to testify.
Andrew Price (former Herpetologist for TPWD) is now talking. He's disputing the failed notion that road herping harms populations. Addressing Sinclairs comments about citizens complaints about herpers and asking if there is any such data -says he's never seen it. Addressing concerns about safety, says there are no records or knowledge of accidents. Offering to provide relevant scientific papers.
A rep asked about collecting. Andrew pointed out that in the past some WC alterna sold for over a thousand, but now CB snakes are the norm. -Wish he had mentioned the current going prices for alterna.
Reading off more names of folks supporting the bill. LOTS of names!
Toby Hibbits now speaking. Talking about roadside populations. Mentioned finding 50+ papers. Snake mortality very high along roads. Roadsides are population sinks that are not viable and are constantly restocked from wild areas. Points out scarcity of roads in prime herping areas such as SW Texas. Concludes that roadside collecting has little to no effect due to high mortality along the roads.
A rep asked about hunting licenses -Toby confirmed we must buy them. The rep liked this.
Same rep is asking if this exception (for road herping) wont lead to future requests for exceptions on other hunting.
Same rep now asking Toby about safety on the road. Toby explains that herpers avoid roads with traffic.
-Player cut out -DAMN
Back on just in time for Jeff Barringer (Kingsnake.com honcho). Talking about how he built his HUGE website starting from a single Alterna website and his own experiences in roadside herping. Talking about wanting to take his kids out herping the roads. Pointed out that a bank in Sanderson was one of the first banks to fail in our current financial crises.
A rep is expressing concern about taking kids out on the interstate. Jeff's explaining that it's not really an issue and saying other groups are taking kids out for trash collection and such. Wish he'd talked about how desolate these roads are -others mentioned it previously.
Travis Laduc(?) is now talking about the importance of road and roadside herping to museum collections and determining range and habits of species. Talking about how roads and ROW were virtually the only legal areas to collect. Talking about how private submissions from hobbyist to museums are critical to building and maintaining useful collections. Giving some cred to "citizen scientists". Pointing out that he has a scientific collecting permit but that he believes EVERYONE should have the right to observe, collect, and contribute.
Jessica Briggs (teenager) is now talking about how much she enjoys herping with her dad but wasn't able to go last year. Teasing her dad that he hasn't caught an alterna since she was born but she has. Perhaps the most compelling testimony so far IMO. Simple, emotional, compelling, and easy for non-herpers to relate to.
More names of folks there is support -LOTS more names.
Only ONE name of someone AGAINST the bill, but not testifying (Susan Hendricks -Texas Humane Legislation Network).
A rep is asking if TPWD will be granted the rule making authority -they will.
Michael Price is now talking about herping with his kids. Address lack of safety issues compared to other activities. Talking about how much safer it is to walk cuts than walking mountains and mesas.
Major Sinclair testifying again. Says TPWD does not have relevant rule making authority and suggesting that be addressed in this or some future legislation. Says he and TPWD is willing to work with herpers.
Toby Hibbits is back up to address safety and road use. Says birders do the same things -just don't try to catch the birds.
Rep King closing discussion and reviewing history. No prior safety issues. Rule making authority would be fine, but not needed. Points out that Islett accepted an amendment to allow herps and it was passed but that the amendment was later stripped out (wish he'd have detailed that tidbit). Says collection and sale already regulated. Ask for committee approval. Adds he's open to suggestions from the committee.
Bill left pending -I think this is standard -gives the members a chance to review it further prior to a vote.
My impression is that this hearing went VERY WELL. Kudos to all those herpers that made it to Austin to stand up for all of us!
