S.B. No. 897
                                        AN ACT
    1-1  relating to a review of Texas' programs to research, control, and
    1-2  eradicate animal tuberculosis and to implementing an improved
    1-3  program based on the review.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Chapter 162, Agriculture Code, is amended by
    1-6  adding Section 162.014 to read as follows:
    1-7        Sec. 162.014.  REVIEW OF CURRENT TUBERCULOSIS PROGRAMS AND
    1-8  IMPLEMENTATION OF IMPROVED PROGRAM.  (a)  The following agencies,
    1-9  colleges, and services jointly shall conduct a review of the
   1-10  state's current programs to research, control, and eradicate animal
   1-11  tuberculosis in both traditional and nontraditional farm and ranch
   1-12  animals:
   1-13              (1)  the commission;
   1-14              (2)  the Department of Agriculture;
   1-15              (3)  the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station;
   1-16              (4)  the Texas Agricultural Extension Service;
   1-17              (5)  the Texas Animal Damage Control Service;
   1-18              (6)  the Texas Department of Health;
   1-19              (7)  the College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M
   1-20  University; and
   1-21              (8)  the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic
   1-22  Laboratory.
   1-23        (b)  The Texas Agricultural Experiment Station is the
   1-24  coordinating agency for the review.
    2-1        (c)  Each agency, college, or service conducting the review
    2-2  under Subsection (a) shall as part of its review seek the advice
    2-3  and opinions of persons who are involved in commercially raising or
    2-4  feeding traditional or nontraditional farm or ranch animals.  The
    2-5  Texas Agricultural Experiment Station shall ensure that persons who
    2-6  are involved in commercially raising or feeding traditional or
    2-7  nontraditional farm or ranch animals have ample notice of and
    2-8  opportunity to comment on the review's findings and that the
    2-9  comments of those persons are considered part of the review's
   2-10  findings.
   2-11        (d)  The agencies, colleges, and services listed under
   2-12  Subsection (a) shall implement an improved program based on the
   2-13  review conducted under Subsection (a) that is designed to research,
   2-14  control, and eradicate animal tuberculosis in both traditional and
   2-15  nontraditional farm and ranch animals.  The agencies, colleges, and
   2-16  services shall agree on the elements of the improved program that
   2-17  will be implemented by each agency, college, or service.  The
   2-18  improved program may not conflict with current law.
   2-19        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
   2-20  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   2-21  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-22  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-23  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   2-24  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   2-25  passage, and it is so enacted.