BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2213
87R3431 KKR-D	By: Frullo et al. (Kolkhorst)
	Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs
	5/6/2021
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

During the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of State Health Services issued a waiver for the exemption of inspection and processing of exotic animals for donation to nonprofit food banks. This has been a crucial food source for families in need during the pandemic.

Exotic animals include axis deer, sika deer, fallow deer, blackbuck, and elk. Currently, exotic animals may not be donated to food banks. Nonprofits like Trinity Oak Foundation in San Antonio process nearly 100,000 pounds of venison a year. Trinity Oaks Foundation estimates it can double this amount if the donation of exotic animal meat is allowed.

This bill seeks to continue these exemptions so hunters can continue to donate this source of protein to families in need. This is not a new practice. Hunters have been donating exotic animal meat to food banks over the past year and it has worked well. These exemptions have proven to help those in need and it makes sense we continue them to serve Texans.

Key Provisions

• Exempts from inspection and processing exotic animals for donation to nonprofit food banks.

H.B. 2213 amends current law relating to the slaughter and processing of exotic animals for donation to a nonprofit food bank.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends the heading to Section 433.006, Health and Safety Code, to read as follows:

Sec. 433.006. EXEMPTION FOR PERSONAL USE OR DONATION TO NONPROFIT FOOD BANK.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 433.006(a), Health and Safety Code, as follows:

(a) Provides that the provisions of Chapter 433 (Texas Meat and Poultry Inspection Act) requiring inspection of the slaughter of livestock and the preparation of carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat, and meat food products at establishments conducting those operations do not apply to the slaughtering of livestock or the preparation and transportation in intrastate commerce of those articles if:

(1) the articles are livestock exclusively for personal use by the owner of the livestock, a member of the owner's family, or a nonpaying guest of the owner, or are exotic animals exclusively for donation by a hunter to a nonprofit food bank, as defined by Section 418.026(a) (relating to defining "nonprofit food bank"), Government Code;

(2) the slaughter or preparation is conducted at the owner's premises, premises where the hunter killed the exotic animal, or at a processing establishment; and

(3) the transportation is limited to moving the carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat, and meat food products to and from the owner's premises and a processing establishment, or to and from the premises where the hunter killed the exotic animal, the processing establishment, and the nonprofit food bank.

Makes nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 3. Amends Section 433.024(b), Health and Safety Code, to provide that this subsection (relating to the requirement that the Department of State Health Services inspect certain slaughtering establishments) does not nullify the provisions in Section 433.006 relating to exemptions, rather than relating to personal use exemption.

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2021.