By Uher                                               H.B. No. 1577

         75R9157 E                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to peer assistance programs for licensed veterinarians.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  The Veterinary Licensing Act (Article 8890,

 1-5     Revised Statutes) is amended by adding Section 8A to read as

 1-6     follows:

 1-7           Sec. 8A.   (a)  The Board shall establish or approve a peer

 1-8     assistance program for persons licensed under this Act.

 1-9           (b)  The peer assistance program must comply with Chapter

1-10     467, Health and Safety Code.

1-11           (c)  In addition to the authority for funding as provided by

1-12     Section 467.004, Health and Safety Code, the peer assistance

1-13     program shall be funded as provided by Section 14B(r) of this Act.

1-14           SECTION 2.  Section 14B(r), The Veterinary Licensing Act

1-15     (Article 8890, Revised Statutes), is amended to read as follows:

1-16           (r)  The Board shall remit a [A] penalty collected under this

1-17     section [shall be remitted] to the comptroller for deposit in the

1-18     general revenue fund to the credit of the peer assistance

1-19     appropriation. Penalties collected shall be reappropriated to the

1-20     Board for the purpose of funding the peer assistance program.  At

1-21     the end of each fiscal year, the comptroller shall transfer all

1-22     unobligated and unexpended amounts in the account to the

1-23     undedicated portion of the general revenue fund.

1-24           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and

 2-1     applies to an administrative penalty collected by the State Board

 2-2     of Veterinary Medical Examiners on or after that date.

 2-3           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-4     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-5     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-6     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-7     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.