By Swinford                                           H.B. No. 1975
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the labeling requirements for drugs prescribed or
 1-3     dispensed for administration to animals in agricultural operations.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 483.042, Health and Safety Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
 1-7           (f)  Provided all federal requirements are met, the labeling
 1-8     provisions of Subsection (a) do not apply to a dangerous drug
 1-9     prescribed or dispensed for administration to food production
1-10     animals in an agricultural operation under a written medical
1-11     directive or treatment guideline from a veterinarian licensed under
1-12     the Veterinary Licensing Act (Article 8890, Revised Statutes) and
1-13     its subsequent amendments.
1-14           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-15           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-16     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-17     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-18     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-19     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.