TITLE 31. NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION
PART 2. TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT
CHAPTER 55. LAW ENFORCEMENT
SUBCHAPTER
D.
The Operation Game Thief Committee proposes amendments to 31 TAC §§55.112, 55.114, and 55.116, concerning Operation Game Thief Fund.
Operation Game Thief (OGT) is a privately funded program that operates under the purview of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and is administered by the OGT Committee under the provisions of Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 12, Subchapter C. It is a type of crime-stopper program designed to encourage the public to assist the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in the enforcement of conservation laws by offering cash rewards to persons who report unlawful conduct. Created in 1981 by the 67th Texas Legislature, the program offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons who commit crimes involving wildlife resources. The program also provides supplemental benefits to the families of department peace officers killed in the line of duty.
The proposed amendments would, collectively, clearly distinguish and separate the roles and duties of department personnel from those of the members and officers of the OGT committee and are intended to allow day-to-day operations to be conducted by the OGT committee with effective oversight by the department.
The proposed amendments either implement or are consistent with the recommendations of the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office within the Office of the Governor.
Robert Macdonald, Regulations Coordinator, has determined that for each of the first five years that the rules as proposed are in effect, there will be no fiscal implications to state or local governments as a result of administering or enforcing the rules as proposed, as the proposed amendments are nonsubstantive. The increased death benefit value would be withdrawn from private, voluntary donations to the OGT fund, not appropriated public monies.
Mr. Macdonald also has determined that for each of the first five years that the rules as proposed are in effect, the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing or administering the proposed rules will be a clear distinction between the functions of the agency and the functions of the Operation Game Thief Committee, as well as execution of the recommendations of the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office within the Office of the Governor.
There will be no adverse economic impacts to persons required to comply with the rules as proposed.
Under the provisions of Government Code, Chapter 2006, a state agency must prepare an economic impact statement and a regulatory flexibility analysis for a rule that may have an adverse economic effect on small businesses and micro-businesses, or rural communities. As required by Government Code, §2006.002(g), the Office of the Attorney General issued guidelines to assist state agencies in determining a proposed rule's potential adverse economic impact on small and microbusinesses and rural communities. The guidelines state that an agency need only consider a proposed rule's "direct adverse economic effects" to determine if any further analysis is required. For that purpose, the department considers "direct economic impact" to mean a requirement that would directly impose recordkeeping or reporting requirements; impose taxes or fees; result in lost sales or profits; adversely affect market competition; or require the purchase or modification of equipment or services. The department has determined that the rules as proposed will not result in any direct economic costs to any small businesses, micro-businesses, or rural communities; therefore, the department has not prepared the economic impact statement or regulatory f‚exibility analysis described in Government Code, Chapter 2006.
The department has not drafted a local employment impact statement under the Administrative Procedures Act, §2001.022, as the agency has determined that the rules as proposed will not impact local economies.
The department has determined that Government Code, §2001.0225 (Regulatory Analysis of Major Environmental Rules), does not apply to the proposed rules.
The department has determined that there will not be a taking of private real property, as defined by Government Code, Chapter 2007, as a result of the proposed rules.
In compliance with the requirements of Government Code, §2001.0221, the department has prepared the following Government Growth Impact Statement (GGIS). The rule as proposed, if adopted, will not create a government program; not result in an increase or decrease in the number of full-time equivalent employee needs; not result in a need for additional General Revenue funding; not affect the amount of any fee; not create a new regulation, or expand or repeal an existing regulation; neither increase nor decrease the number of individuals subject to regulation; not positively or adversely affect the state's economy.
Comments on the proposed rules may be submitted to Assistant Commander Kevin Winters, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744; (832) 523-8847; email: kevin.winters@tpwd.texas.gov
The amendments are proposed under Parks and Wildlife Code, §12.201, which authorizes the Operation Game Thief Committee to adopt rules for the implementation of the Operation Game Thief program and maintenance of the Operation Game Thief fund.
The proposed amendments affect Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 12, Subchapter C.
§55.112.
(a) The committee [director] shall develop procedures for the acceptance, conversion, and deposit of all donations offered by individuals, clubs, or other organizations.
(b) Conversion of donations of real or personal property into United States currency shall be accomplished by the committee [director].
(c) Donations received by the committee shall be deposited [by the director] in interest-bearing accounts (operation game thief fund) insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or invested in United States Treasury bills and bonds or certificates of deposit at the best available yields.
(d) The coordinator [chairman] shall be notified in writing of any disbursement in excess of $1000 [$500]. A disbursement under this subsection may include but is not limited to promotional costs to enhance the fund. All donations may be used for these purposes unless otherwise specifically prohibited by the donor. All disbursements from accounts will be made with prior written authorization from the chairman [by check signed by the director]. The committee shall submit a quarterly report to the director, reviewed and signed by the chairman and one other committee member, [will be furnished an annual report] detailing all expenditures from the fund.
§55.114.
(a) The amount of reward granted to eligible applicants may not exceed $1,000 and shall be determined on an individual basis by the coordinator, with the approval of the director of law enforcement or their designee, according to a multiple-factor formula approved by the Committee.
(b) In the event two or more eligible applicants furnish information pertaining to a specific violation, the reward may be divided among the eligible applicants in an amount determined by the coordinator, with the approval of the director of law enforcement or their designee.
(c) At each meeting, the committee shall review all disbursements of rewards authorized [made] by the coordinator since the last committee meeting and may increase the amount of any reward paid or approve additional rewards.
§55.116.
(a) The amount of a death benefit payment granted to an eligible recipient shall be $50,000 or an amount determined by the committee [$25,000] and payment processing will be initiated by the coordinator, with the approval of the director of law enforcement [the Law Enforcement Division] and the chairman, to occur within 15 working days after the death occurs.
(b) At each meeting, the committee shall review all disbursements of death benefits authorized [made] by the coordinator since the last committee meeting and may increase the amount of any death benefit or approve additional death benefits.
(c) This section applies to any death occurring on or after October 1, 2008.
The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the proposal and found it to be within the state agency's legal authority to adopt.
Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on June 29, 2026.
TRD-202602675
James Murphy
General Counsel
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Earliest possible date of adoption: August 9, 2026
For further information, please call: (512) 389-4775