By:  Hilderbran                                       H.B. No. 1226
       73R5241 MLR-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to exemptions from dog and cat sterilization requirements
    1-3  for animal pounds, shelters, and humane organizations in certain
    1-4  counties.
    1-5        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-6        SECTION 1.  Section 828.013, Health and Safety Code, is
    1-7  amended to read as follows:
    1-8        Sec. 828.013.  Exemptions.  This chapter does not apply to:
    1-9              (1)  a dog or cat that is claimed from a releasing
   1-10  agency by a person who already owns the animal;
   1-11              (2)  a releasing agency located in a municipality that
   1-12  has in effect an ordinance providing standards for dog and cat
   1-13  sterilization that exceed the requirements provided by this
   1-14  chapter;
   1-15              (3)  an institution of higher education that purchases
   1-16  or otherwise procures a dog or cat for the purpose of biomedical
   1-17  research, testing, or teaching; or
   1-18              (4)  a releasing agency located in a county or
   1-19  municipality with a population of 25,000 or less.
   1-20        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-21  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-22  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-23  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-24  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
    2-1  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
    2-2  passage, and it is so enacted.