By Bonnen                                             H.B. No. 2113
         76R3787 SMJ-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the authority of certain counties to regulate greyhound
 1-3     breeding and training; providing a criminal penalty.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 240, Local Government Code, is amended by
 1-6     adding Subchapter E to read as follows:
 1-7        SUBCHAPTER E.  REGULATION OF GREYHOUND BREEDING AND TRAINING
 1-8           Sec. 240.091.  APPLICABILITY.  This chapter applies only in
 1-9     the unincorporated area of a county if the county:
1-10                 (1)  has a greyhound racetrack operating within the
1-11     county; or
1-12                 (2)  is adjacent to a county in which a greyhound
1-13     racetrack is operating.
1-14           Sec. 240.092.  REGULATION.   (a)  In this chapter,
1-15     "greyhound" has the meaning assigned by Section 1.03, Texas Racing
1-16     Act (Article 179e, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes).
1-17           (b)  The commissioners court of a county by order may
1-18     regulate the keeping of a greyhound in the county if the greyhound
1-19     is primarily kept for breeding, racing, or training.
1-20           (c)  A regulation under this section does not apply to the
1-21     kenneling of greyhounds at a greyhound racetrack.
1-22           Sec. 240.093.  FEES.  (a)  The commissioners court of a
1-23     county may establish a fee for each greyhound subject to regulation
1-24     under this subchapter to recover the costs associated with that
 2-1     regulation.  The commissioners court may collect the fee only from
 2-2     a person who keeps a greyhound subject to regulation under this
 2-3     subchapter.
 2-4           (b)  The county shall deposit fees collected under this
 2-5     section in the county treasury, and the money may be used only for
 2-6     the administration of this subchapter.
 2-7           Sec. 240.094.  OFFENSE.  (a)  A person commits an offense if
 2-8     the person violates an order adopted under this subchapter.
 2-9           (b)  An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
2-10           Sec. 240.095.  INJUNCTION.  An attorney representing the
2-11     county may file an action in a district court to enjoin a violation
2-12     or threatened violation of an order adopted under this subchapter.
2-13           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-14     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-15     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-16     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-17     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-18     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-19     passage, and it is so enacted.