| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
(The second chamber sponsor is Senator Estes.)
HB 1919, if passed, would modify the Parks and Wildlife Code
(Section 66.007) by providing an exemption. Currently Texas law provides
criminal penalties for actions which enlarge the range of certain aquatic
invasive species. HB 1919 grants an exemption from these provisions is such an
expansion takes place as a result species moving through water transfer,
conveyance, storage, or distribution systems at no fault of the system
operators.
We recognize the need for a legal regime surrounding
invasive species. We also recognize the motivation behind the exemption which
would be provided by HB 1919. We question though why such a bill is necessary,
as the criminal penalties listed in current code seem unlikely to be pursued if
invasive species expansion occurred without explicit enabling action on the
part of water facility operators. Though of questionable necessity, HB 1919
does fit within the code as it stands, and does not negatively affect our
principles. As such we are neutral on the bill.