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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the source of dogs and cats sold by pet stores; |
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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. Title 6, Business & Commerce Code, is amended by |
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adding Chapter 206 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 206. SALE OF DOGS AND CATS BY PET STORES |
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Sec. 206.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Animal control agency" means a municipal or |
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county animal control office, or a state, county, or municipal law |
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enforcement agency, that collects, impounds, or keeps stray, |
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homeless, abandoned, or unwanted animals. |
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(2) "Animal rescue organization" means a nonprofit |
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private organization that is exempt from taxation under Section |
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501(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as an organization described |
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by Section 501(c)(3) of that code, that accepts homeless or |
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unwanted dogs or cats with the purpose of finding permanent homes |
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for the dogs or cats, and that does not obtain dogs or cats from a |
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breeder or animal seller for compensation. |
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(3) "Animal shelter" means a facility that collects, |
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impounds, or keeps stray, homeless, abandoned, or unwanted dogs or |
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cats. |
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(4) "Pet store" means a for-profit business that sells |
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dogs or cats in a county with a population of 200,000 or more. The |
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term does not include an individual who sells, gives, or otherwise |
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transfers dogs or cats raised, bred, or both by the individual. |
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Sec. 206.002. SALE OF DOG OR CAT BY PET STORE. A pet store |
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may not sell a dog or cat unless the pet store obtained the dog or |
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cat from: |
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(1) an animal control agency; |
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(2) an animal shelter; or |
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(3) an animal rescue organization. |
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Sec. 206.003. MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS. (a) A pet store |
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shall maintain a record documenting from which animal control |
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agency, animal shelter, or animal rescue organization the pet store |
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obtained each dog or cat in the possession of the pet store for not |
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less than one year following the date the pet store takes possession |
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of the dog or cat. |
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(b) A pet store shall make the records maintained under this |
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section reasonably available for inspection by an animal control |
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agency, animal shelter, or animal rescue organization from which |
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the pet store has received a dog or cat during the preceding 12 |
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months. |
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Sec. 206.004. PUBLIC POSTING. A pet store shall post in a |
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conspicuous location affixed to the enclosure of each dog or cat |
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available for sale the name of the animal control agency, animal |
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shelter, or animal rescue organization from which the pet store |
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obtained the dog or cat. |
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Sec. 206.005. CIVIL PENALTY. A pet store that violates |
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Section 206.002 is liable to this state for a civil penalty in an |
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amount not to exceed $500 for each dog or cat sold in violation of |
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that section. The attorney general may bring an action to collect |
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the civil penalty imposed under this section. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a dog or cat obtained by a pet store on or after the effective |
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date of this Act. A dog or cat obtained by a pet store before the |
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effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the |
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date the dog or cat was obtained, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |