Enrolled Bill Summary

House Bill 2328 amends the Agriculture Code to require a seller, distributor, or transporter of live domestic or exotic fowl in Texas to register with the Texas Animal Health Commission. The commission may exempt from registration a participant in a recognized disease surveillance program. The bill provides for an annual registration fee. It requires the commission, not later than January 1, 2004, to adopt associated rules, including rules relating to testing, identification, transportation, inspection, sanitation, and disinfection of fowl. The bill creates a Class B misdemeanor offense for a knowing violation or knowing failure to comply with an order or rule under the new law. A repeat offense is a Class C misdemeanor.