|
House Bill 1451 |
House Author: Thompson et al. |
|
Effective: 6-17-11 |
Senate Sponsor: Whitmire et al. |
House Bill 1451 amends the Occupations Code to enact the Commercial Dog and Cat Breeders Act prohibiting a person from acting as, offering to act as, or representing that the person is a dog or cat breeder in Texas unless the person holds a license under the provisions of the bill for each facility the person owns or operates in Texas. The bill requires the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) to administer and enforce the bill's provisions and requires the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation to adopt rules necessary to administer and enforce those provisions, including the establishment of requirements for the issuance or renewal of a commercial breeder license issued to a dog or cat breeder.
House Bill 1451 establishes the eligibility and application requirements, the term of issuance, and the terms of renewal for a license issued to a dog or cat breeder, and specifies that such a license is nontransferable. The bill sets out provisions relating to a prelicense inspection of a facility and the inspection process and establishes requirements for TDLR's denial, revocation, or suspension of a license. The bill sets recordkeeping and notification requirements for a licensed breeder and requires the commission by rule to establish the retention period for records required under the bill's provisions.
House Bill 1451 requires the commission to adopt rules establishing certain minimum standards for the humane handling, care, housing, and transportation of dogs and cats by a dog or cat breeder to ensure the overall health, safety, and well-being of each animal in the breeder's possession and establishes requirements for those standards. The bill requires the commission by rule to establish reasonable and necessary fees in amounts sufficient to cover the costs of administering and enforcing the bill's provisions. The bill sets requirements for TDLR relating to the monitoring of licensed breeders and for making certain information relating to such breeders public information.
House Bill 1451 establishes a dog or cat breeder training and enforcement account as an account in the general revenue fund and sets out provisions relating to the maintenance of the account. The bill requires the commission by rule to establish training requirements and registration procedures for a third-party inspector and policies governing the acts of such an inspector. The bill sets requirements for TDLR relating to the inspection of each facility of a licensed breeder and sets out provisions relating to a breeder's violation of state law. The bill sets out provisions relating to an advisory committee to advise the commission and make recommendations on matters related to the administration and enforcement of the bill's provisions.