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.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 1975 was passed by the House on April
         16, 1999, by a non-record vote; that the House refused to concur in
         Senate amendments to H.B. No. 1975 on May 19, 1999, and requested
         the appointment of a conference committee to consider the
         differences between the two houses; and that the House adopted the
         conference committee report on H.B. No. 1975 on May 27, 1999, by a
         non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 1975 was passed by the Senate, with
         amendments, on May 17, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays
         0; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference
         committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and
         that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No.
         1975 on May 29, 1999, by a viva-voce vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor