THEA~~~OIRNEY.GENEKAL
OFTEXAS
April 6; 19%
Mr. W. T. Oliver ww- 586 Game & Fish Coxxeittee House of Representatives Re: Constitutionality of House Bill Austin,Texas 23,6,56th Leg., relatingto the dutiesand authorityof the Game and Fish Commission
Dear Mr. Oliver:
You~,have requesteda determinationon the constitutionality of House Bill 236, 56th Legislature,by RepresentativeCriss Cole.
Rouse Bill 236 is a bill to make It unlawfulto hunt, trap or fish in this State except in accordancewith,regulations of the Came and Fish Commissionmade pursuantto this Bill, and providingpenaltiesfor violationsthereof. . Section1 of H. B. 236 makes it unlawful'tohunt, take, kill or possessor attemptto take, kill or possessany game bird or animal or any fur-bearinganimsIand fish or other marine animalsin this State; and, providesthat the Game and Fish Commissionshall from time to time declare an open season. The Courts have held "that the State, for the purposeof conservingits naturalresourcesand preventingwaste has the right to regulateproduction",and may delegate, the authorityto enforcethe laws and make &es and r&ulatio&s,.C&ore ProductionCo. v. Thompson,11 F-S. 791,793 (~1935) .~ Section13 providesfor,penaltiee for violationof provisionsof the Act. Tha Legislaturecannotdelegateto an administrative board the power to make a law prescribinga penaltt,but it is within the power of the Legislatureto Etuthorize that a board or commission"prescribeduties or ascertainconditionsupon which an existinglaw may operatein impos- ing a penaltyand in effectuatingthe purposedesignatedin enactingthe law". Tuttle vG Wood, 35 S.U.2d 1061,1065(Tex.Civ.App. 1931) writ ref. In Section13 the offense6denouncedin the Bill are made a misdemeanor and punishme& is set a.*-%-:tioLatiu?&s. The Bill imposesthe penalty, not the Gams and Pish Cqm%Usiorx;the Commissionis merely authorizedto promulgaterules and ngulatfons which prescribedutiesand detail condi- tions under which the completeoffenseas laid down by the Bill shall operate-
The LegiaIaturemust set standardsto guide the discretionof the Commission,Uoody v. City of UnixersityPark, 278 S.W.2d 912 (Tex.Civ. App. 1955) ref. n.r.e.;&nasingAuthorityv. Higginbotbam,143 S.W.2d Mr. W. T. Oliver,Page 2 (WW- 586 )
79,87, 135 Tex. 158 (1940); "such standardsmay be broad where conditions must be consideredwhich cannotbe convenientlyinvestigated by the Legis- lature". HousingAuthorityv. Higginbotham,supra. Sections2, 3, and 6 provide standardsupon which the Commissionis to base its proclamations, rules and regulations. Section2 requiresthe Commissionto make scienti- fic researchinvestigations and studiesof specificfactorsand pursuant to such studiesprovidean open season. It requiresthe Commissionto be specificas to quantity,sex, size, age, speciesand provide~I '~', '. the method for taking or killing. Section3 requiresthe Commissionto revoke or amend orders so as to prevent"depletion"or "waste"of a game bird, game animal,fish, or fur-bearinganimal in any part of the State. Sections4 and 5 define "Depletion"and !'Waste".Section6 provides specialstandardsfor the taking of antlerlessdeer, prong-hornedantelope, or wild elk. Section7 providesfor a public hearingin each countyaf- fectedten days after notice. Sections8, 9, and 10 set up additional proceduralstandardsto guide the action of the Commission. These sections set up addquatestandardsto governthe conductof the Commissionin the exerciseof its powers.
Section2 of H. B. 236 requiresthe Commissionto conductre- I* enter findingsof facts and to act upon such search investigations~s.hd findingsin order to preventdepletionor waste. The determination of facts is a proper functionof an administrativeBoard. Tuttle v. Wood, supra,Bousing Authorityv. Higglnbotham,supra.
House Bill 236 lays down