1-1 By: Uher (Senate Sponsor - Armbrister) H.B. No. 1577
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House April 14, 1997;
1-3 April 16, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on
1-4 Finance; May 9, 1997, reported favorably by the following vote:
1-5 Yeas 11, Nays 0; May 9, 1997, sent to printer.)
1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-7 AN ACT
1-8 relating to peer assistance programs for licensed veterinarians.
1-9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-10 SECTION 1. The Veterinary Licensing Act (Article 8890,
1-11 Revised Statutes) is amended by adding Section 8A to read as
1-12 follows:
1-13 Sec. 8A. (a) The Board shall establish or approve a peer
1-14 assistance program for persons licensed under this Act.
1-15 (b) The peer assistance program must comply with Chapter
1-16 467, Health and Safety Code.
1-17 (c) In addition to the authority for funding as provided by
1-18 Section 467.004, Health and Safety Code, the peer assistance
1-19 program shall be funded as provided by Section 14B(r) of this Act.
1-20 SECTION 2. Section 14B(r), The Veterinary Licensing Act
1-21 (Article 8890, Revised Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
1-22 (r) The Board shall remit a [A] penalty collected under this
1-23 section [shall be remitted] to the comptroller for deposit in the
1-24 general revenue fund to the credit of the peer assistance
1-25 appropriation. Penalties collected shall be reappropriated to the
1-26 Board for the purpose of funding the peer assistance program. At
1-27 the end of each fiscal year, the comptroller shall transfer all
1-28 unobligated and unexpended amounts in the account to the
1-29 undedicated portion of the general revenue fund.
1-30 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and
1-31 applies to an administrative penalty collected by the State Board
1-32 of Veterinary Medical Examiners on or after that date.
1-33 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
1-34 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-35 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-36 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-37 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
1-38 * * * * *