By:  Lindsay                                          S.B. No. 1782

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

                                       AN ACT

 1-1     relating to the disposal of dead animal carcasses found on

 1-2     municipal and county roadways.

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

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 361, Health and Safety

 1-5     Code, is amended by adding Section 361.116 to read as follows:

 1-6           Sec. 361.116.  DISPOSAL OF CARCASSES OF ANIMALS KILLED ON

 1-7     ROADWAYS.  (a)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this

 1-8     chapter, counties and municipalities may dispose of the carcasses

 1-9     of animals killed on county or municipal roadways by burying the

1-10     carcasses on property owned by the entity that is responsible for

1-11     road maintenance.  No permit shall be required to dispose of animal

1-12     carcasses on county or municipal property.  Disposal shall be

1-13     conducted in a manner consistent with public health.

1-14           (b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the

1-15     Texas Department of Transportation may dispose of the carcasses of

1-16     animals killed on the state highway system by burying the carcasses

1-17     on state highway right-of-way.  No permit shall be required to

1-18     dispose of animal carcasses on state highway right-of-way.

1-19     Disposal shall be conducted in a manner consistent with public

1-20     health.

1-21           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-22           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-23     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-1     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

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

 2-3     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.