By Gutierrez H.B. No. 669
74R3716 DLF-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the quarantine of rabid animals.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 826.042, Health and Safety Code, is
1-5 amended to read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 826.042. QUARANTINE OF ANIMALS. (a) The board shall
1-7 adopt rules governing the testing of quarantined animals and the
1-8 procedure for and method of quarantine. The rules must provide for
1-9 a quarantine period of not less than 15 days and not more than 30
1-10 days.
1-11 (b) The local health authority shall quarantine or test in
1-12 accordance with board rules any animal that the local health
1-13 authority has probable cause to believe may be rabid or may have
1-14 exposed a person to rabies.
1-15 (c) An owner shall submit for quarantine an animal that:
1-16 (1) is reported to be rabid or to have exposed an
1-17 individual to rabies; or
1-18 (2) the owner knows or suspects is rabid or has <to
1-19 have> exposed an individual to rabies.
1-20 (d) A veterinarian shall submit for quarantine an animal
1-21 that:
1-22 (1) is in the possession of the veterinarian; and
1-23 (2) the veterinarian knows or suspects is rabid or has
1-24 exposed an individual to rabies.
2-1 (e) The owner or veterinarian shall submit the animal to the
2-2 local health authority of the county or municipality in which the
2-3 exposure occurs.
2-4 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
2-5 SECTION 3. The Texas Board of Health shall adopt rules as
2-6 required by Section 826.042(a), Health and Safety Code, as amended
2-7 by this Act, as soon as possible, but not later than January 1,
2-8 1996.
2-9 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-10 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-11 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-12 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-13 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.