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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of certain counties to order the |
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microchipping of dogs; providing a civil penalty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 822, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Subchapter F to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER F. MICROCHIPPING OF DOGS IN CERTAIN COUNTIES |
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Sec. 822.151. APPLICABILITY. This subchapter applies only |
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to a county with a population of less than 50,000 that is: |
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(1) located in a metropolitan statistical area as |
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defined by the federal Office of Management and Budget with a |
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population of more than two million; and |
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(2) adjacent to another metropolitan statistical area |
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as defined by the federal Office of Management and Budget with a |
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population of more than two million. |
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Sec. 822.152. ORDER TO MICROCHIP. (a) The commissioners |
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court of a county may adopt an order requiring each dog regularly |
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located in the county that is owned by a county resident to be |
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microchipped. The order must specify: |
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(1) the time the owner has to microchip the dog after |
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becoming the owner; |
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(2) any exemption from the requirement to microchip, |
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including any exemption for a dog temporarily located in the county |
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or for a medical reason; and |
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(3) any other matters the commissioners court finds |
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appropriate. |
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(b) If another political subdivision located in the county |
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adopts a microchipping requirement with more stringent standards |
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than the county standards, the political subdivision's standards |
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control within the political subdivision. |
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Sec. 822.153. CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A person who violates an |
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order adopted under this subchapter is liable for a civil penalty of |
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not more than $200. |
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(b) The county attorney of the county in which the violation |
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occurs may sue to collect a civil penalty. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |