Sec. 77.002.  LICENSE FEES.  (a)  License fees provided in this chapter are a privilege tax on catching, buying, selling, unloading, transporting, or handling shrimp within the jurisdiction of this state.
(b)  The shrimp marketing account is an account in the general revenue fund to be used by the Department of Agriculture solely for the purpose of the Texas shrimp marketing assistance program established under Subchapter B, Chapter 47, Agriculture Code.  The account consists of funds deposited to the account under this section.  The account is exempt from the application of Section 11.032 of this code and Section 403.095, Government Code.
(c)  Except as provided by Sections 47.021 and 77.049, in addition to fee increases the department is authorized to make under this code, the department shall increase by 10 percent the fee, as of September 1, 2003, for the following licenses and shall deposit the amount of the increase to the credit of the shrimp marketing account:
(1)  a wholesale fish dealer's license issued under Section 47.009;
(2)  a wholesale truck dealer's fish license issued under Section 47.010;
(3)  a retail fish dealer's license issued under Section 47.011;
(4)  a retail dealer's truck license issued under Section 47.013;
(5)  a commercial bay shrimp boat license issued under Section 77.031;  and
(6)  a commercial gulf shrimp boat license issued under Section 77.035.
(d)  Money in the shrimp marketing account may be used only for implementing, maintaining, and conducting, including hiring program staff employees for, the Texas shrimp marketing assistance program created under Subchapter B, Chapter 47, Agriculture Code.  The Department of Agriculture may allocate not more than $100,000 per fiscal year of the money in the account to cover administrative and personnel costs of the Department of Agriculture associated with the program.
(e)  The department shall deposit at the end of each quarter to the credit of the shrimp marketing account, fees received under Subsection (c) for use by the Department of Agriculture to conduct and operate the Texas shrimp marketing assistance program created under Subchapter B, Chapter 47, Agriculture Code.
Acts 1975, 64th Leg., p. 1405, ch. 545, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1975.  Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 265, Sec. 8, eff. June 18, 2003;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 677, Sec. 6, eff. June 20, 2003.
Amended by: 
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1052 (H.B. 4593), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2009.