By Sims                                                S.B. No. 897
       74R6245 JRD-F
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to a review of Texas' programs to research, control, and
    1-3  eradicate animal tuberculosis and to implementing an improved
    1-4  program based on the review.
    1-5        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-6        SECTION 1.  Chapter 162, Agriculture Code, is amended by
    1-7  adding Section 162.014 to read as follows:
    1-8        Sec. 162.014.  REVIEW OF CURRENT TUBERCULOSIS PROGRAMS AND
    1-9  IMPLEMENTATION OF IMPROVED PROGRAM.  (a) The following agencies,
   1-10  colleges, and services jointly shall conduct a review of the
   1-11  state's current programs to research, control, and eradicate animal
   1-12  tuberculosis in both traditional and nontraditional farm and ranch
   1-13  animals:
   1-14              (1)  the commission;
   1-15              (2)  the Department of Agriculture;
   1-16              (3)  the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station;
   1-17              (4)  the Texas Agricultural Extension Service;
   1-18              (5)  the Texas Animal Damage Control Service;
   1-19              (6)  the Texas Department of Health;
   1-20              (7)  the College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M
   1-21  University; and
   1-22              (8)  the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic
   1-23  Laboratory.
   1-24        (b)  The Texas Agricultural Experiment Station is the
    2-1  coordinating agency for the study.
    2-2        (c)  The agencies, colleges, and services listed under
    2-3  Subsection (a) shall implement an improved program based on the
    2-4  review conducted under Subsection (a) that is designed to research,
    2-5  control, and eradicate animal tuberculosis in both traditional and
    2-6  nontraditional farm and ranch animals.  The agencies, colleges, and
    2-7  services shall agree on the elements of the improved program that
    2-8  will be implemented by each agency, college, or service. The
    2-9  improved program may not conflict with current law.
   2-10        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
   2-11  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   2-12  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-13  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-14  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   2-15  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   2-16  passage, and it is so enacted.