LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                          Austin, Texas

                           FISCAL NOTE
                       74th Regular Session

                        February 13, 1995



 TO:     Honorable Hugo Berlanga, Chair         IN RE:  House Bill No. 721
         Committee on Public Health                     By:  DeLaGarza
         House of Representatives
         Austin, Texas






FROM: John Keel, Director

In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on House Bill No.
721 (Relating to the control of rabies; providing criminal
penalties.) this office has determined the following:

The bill would change the penalty to owners of cats or dogs for
not vaccinating these animals from a Class C to a Class A
misdemeanor.  The bill would create a penalty (Class C
misdemeanor) for transporting a dog or cat from one county to
another without a rabies vaccination certificate.  Veterinarians
would be required to quarantine animals in their possession known
to have exposed individuals to rabies, or known or suspected to
have rabies.  The bill would permit veterinarians the authority
currently given local health authorities for the release or
disposition of quarantined animals. 

The bill would create a Class C misdemeanor for the interstate or
between country transport of an animal for the purpose of
hunting, injuring, or killing the animal for amusement or sport 
if the animal is of a type that has a high probability of
transmitting rabies.


No fiscal implication to the State or units of local government
is anticipated.




Source:   Department of Health
          LBB Staff: JK, KF, AZ, DF