The Parks and Wildlife Department may sue in district court over certain water- or wildlife-related violations and may recover damages and some costs.
Sec. 7.109. PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT JURISDICTION. (a) If it appears that a violation or a threat of violation of Section 26.121 or a rule, permit, or order of the commission has occurred or is occurring that affects aquatic life or wildlife, the Parks and Wildlife Department, in the same manner as the commission under this chapter, may have a suit instituted in a district court for injunctive relief or civil penalties, or both, as authorized by this subchapter, against the person who committed or is committing or threatening to commit the violation. (b) In a suit brought under this section for a violation that is the proximate cause of injury to aquatic life or wildlife normally taken for commercial or sport purposes or to species on which this life is directly dependent for food, the Parks and Wildlife Department is entitled to recover damages for the injury. In determining damages, the court may consider the valuation of the injured resources established in rules adopted by the Parks and Wildlife Department under Subchapter D, Chapter 12, Parks and Wildlife Code, or the replacement cost of the injured resources. Any recovery of damages for injury to aquatic life or wildlife shall be deposited to the credit of the game, fish, and water safety account under Section 11.032, Parks and Wildlife Code, and the Parks and Wildlife Department shall use money recovered in a suit brought under this section to replenish or enhance the injured resources. (c) The actual cost of investigation, reasonable attorney's fees, and reasonable expert witness fees may also be recovered, and those recovered amounts shall be credited to the same operating accounts from which expenditures occurred. (d) This section does not limit recovery for damages available under other laws. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1072, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.