By Clemons H.B. No. 2472
74R7870 GWK-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the offense of cruelty to animals.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 42.09, Penal Code, is amended by amending
1-5 Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
1-6 (c) In <For purposes of> this section:
1-7 (1) "Animal"<, "animal"> means a domesticated living
1-8 creature and wild living creature previously captured. "Animal"
1-9 does not include an uncaptured wild creature or a wild creature
1-10 whose capture was accomplished by conduct at issue under this
1-11 section.
1-12 (2) "Shelter" means to house an animal in an enclosure
1-13 to protect the animal from the elements or from predators.
1-14 (f) For purposes of Subsection (a)(6), a person does not
1-15 cause or intend to cause an animal to fight with another animal by
1-16 sheltering the animals in the same cage, house, or other enclosure,
1-17 regardless of whether the animals are of the type that are
1-18 aggressive when confined together.
1-19 SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to an
1-20 offense committed before, on, or after the effective date of this
1-21 Act, except that a final conviction for an offense under Section
1-22 42.09(a)(6), Penal Code, that exists on the effective date of this
1-23 Act is unaffected by this Act.
1-24 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
2-1 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-2 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-3 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-4 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-5 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.