76R13413 CMR-D
By Goodman H.B. No. 2259
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2259:
By Swinford C.S.H.B. No. 2259
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the regulation of dangerous wild animals; imposing
1-3 civil and criminal penalties.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 822, Health and Safety Code, is amended
1-6 by adding Subchapter E to read as follows:
1-7 SUBCHAPTER E. DANGEROUS WILD ANIMALS
1-8 Sec. 822.101. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
1-9 (1) "Animal registration agency" means the municipal
1-10 or county animal control office with authority over the area where
1-11 a dangerous wild animal is kept or a county sheriff in an area that
1-12 does not have an animal control office.
1-13 (2) "Commercial activity" means:
1-14 (A) conducting for profit any activity that is
1-15 not inherent to the animal's nature;
1-16 (B) charging a fee for entertainment that uses
1-17 the animal or exhibition of the animal; or
1-18 (C) selling, trading, bartering, or auctioning
1-19 the animal or the animal's body parts.
1-20 (3) "Dangerous wild animal" means:
1-21 (A) a lion;
1-22 (B) a tiger;
1-23 (C) an ocelot;
1-24 (D) a cougar;
2-1 (E) a snow leopard;
2-2 (F) a leopard;
2-3 (G) a cheetah;
2-4 (H) a jaguar;
2-5 (I) a hyena;
2-6 (J) a bear;
2-7 (K) a baboon;
2-8 (L) a chimpanzee;
2-9 (M) a gorilla; or
2-10 (N) any hybrid of an animal listed in this
2-11 subdivision.
2-12 (4) "Owner" means any person who owns, harbors, or has
2-13 custody or control of a dangerous wild animal.
2-14 (5) "Primary enclosure" means any structure used to
2-15 immediately restrict an animal to a limited amount of space,
2-16 including a cage, pen, run, room, compartment, or hutch.
2-17 (6) "Wildlife sanctuary" means a nonprofit
2-18 organization described by Section 170(b)(1)(A)(vi), Internal
2-19 Revenue Code of 1986, and its subsequent amendments, that:
2-20 (A) operates a place of refuge where abused,
2-21 neglected, unwanted, impounded, abandoned, orphaned, or displaced
2-22 wildlife are provided care for their lifetime or released back to
2-23 their natural habitats;
2-24 (B) does not conduct any commercial activity
2-25 with respect to any animal of which the organization is an owner;
2-26 and
2-27 (C) does not breed any animal of which the
3-1 organization is an owner except as an integral part of a species
3-2 survival plan of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association.
3-3 Sec. 822.102. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. This subchapter
3-4 does not apply to:
3-5 (1) a person possessing or having custody of an
3-6 injured, infirm, orphaned, or abandoned dangerous wild animal
3-7 solely for the purpose of transporting the animal for care or
3-8 treatment to a wildlife sanctuary, a licensed veterinarian, an
3-9 incorporated humane society or animal shelter, an organization
3-10 that is an accredited member of the American Zoo and Aquarium
3-11 Association, or a state, federal, or local government official,
3-12 with authority or apparent authority to care for or treat the
3-13 animal;
3-14 (2) a person who holds a rehabilitation permit issued
3-15 under Subchapter C, Chapter 43, Parks and Wildlife Code, while the
3-16 person is rehabilitating, treating, or caring for an injured or
3-17 infirm dangerous wild animal;
3-18 (3) a licensed veterinarian, while the veterinarian is
3-19 rehabilitating, treating, or caring for an injured or infirm
3-20 dangerous wild animal;
3-21 (4) an incorporated humane society or animal shelter,
3-22 while the society or shelter is rehabilitating, treating, or caring
3-23 for an injured or infirm dangerous wild animal;
3-24 (5) a research facility, as that term is defined by
3-25 Section 2(e), Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. Section 2132), and its
3-26 subsequent amendments, that is licensed by the secretary of
3-27 agriculture of the United States under that Act;
4-1 (6) an agency of the state or the United States or an
4-2 agent or official of the agency acting in an official capacity;
4-3 (7) an animal registration agency or law enforcement
4-4 agency or any agent or official of an animal registration agency or
4-5 law enforcement agency acting in an official capacity;
4-6 (8) an organization that is an accredited member of
4-7 the American Zoo and Aquarium Association;
4-8 (9) a wildlife sanctuary;
4-9 (10) a dangerous wild animal owned by and in the
4-10 custody and control of a transient circus company that is not
4-11 based in this state if:
4-12 (A) the animal is used as an integral part of
4-13 the circus performances; and
4-14 (B) the animal is kept within this state only
4-15 during the time the circus is performing in this state;
4-16 (11) a dangerous wild animal that is:
4-17 (A) owned by or in the possession, control, or
4-18 custody of a person that is a participant in a species survival
4-19 plan of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association for that species;
4-20 and
4-21 (B) an integral part of that species survival
4-22 plan;
4-23 (12) a dangerous wild animal in the temporary custody
4-24 or control of a television or motion picture production company
4-25 during the filming of a television or motion picture production in
4-26 this state;
4-27 (13) a nonhuman primate owned by and in the control
5-1 and custody of a person whose only business is supplying nonhuman
5-2 primates directly and exclusively to biomedical research
5-3 facilities and who holds a Class A or Class B dealer's license
5-4 issued by the secretary of agriculture of the United States under
5-5 the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. Section 2131 et seq.) and its
5-6 subsequent amendments; and
5-7 (14) a dangerous wild animal while being transported
5-8 in interstate commerce through the state in compliance with the
5-9 Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. Section 2131 et seq.) and its
5-10 subsequent amendments and the regulations adopted under that Act.
5-11 Sec. 822.103. CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION. (a) A person
5-12 may not own, harbor, or have custody or control of a dangerous wild
5-13 animal for any purpose unless the person holds a current
5-14 certificate of registration for that animal issued by an animal
5-15 registration agency under this subchapter.
5-16 (b) The animal registration agency may require a separate
5-17 certificate of registration for each animal.
5-18 (c) A certificate of registration issued under this
5-19 subchapter is not transferrable and is valid for one year after its
5-20 date of issuance or renewal unless revoked.
5-21 (d) Each municipality and county by ordinance or order shall
5-22 establish and charge reasonable fees for application and renewal to
5-23 recover the costs associated with administration and enforcement of
5-24 this subchapter. The fee may not exceed $50 for each animal and
5-25 the total fees may not exceed $500 for a person, regardless of the
5-26 number of animals owned by that person. The fees collected under
5-27 this section may be used only to administer and enforce this
6-1 subchapter.
6-2 Sec. 822.104. CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION APPLICATION. (a)
6-3 An applicant for an original or renewal certificate of registration
6-4 for a dangerous wild animal must file an application with an animal
6-5 registration agency on a form provided by the animal registration
6-6 agency.
6-7 (b) The application must include:
6-8 (1) the name, address, and telephone number of the
6-9 applicant;
6-10 (2) a complete identification of each animal,
6-11 including species, sex, age, if known, and any distinguishing marks
6-12 or coloration that would aid in the identification of the animal;
6-13 (3) the exact location where each animal is to be
6-14 kept;
6-15 (4) a sworn statement that:
6-16 (A) all information in the application is
6-17 complete and accurate; and
6-18 (B) the applicant has read this subchapter and
6-19 that all facilities used by the applicant to confine or enclose the
6-20 animal comply with the requirements of this subchapter; and
6-21 (5) any other information the municipality or county
6-22 by rule or by ordinance or order requires.
6-23 (c) An applicant shall include with each application:
6-24 (1) the nonrefundable fee;
6-25 (2) proof, in a form acceptable by the animal
6-26 registration agency, that the applicant has liability insurance, as
6-27 required by Section 822.105;
7-1 (3) a color photograph of each animal being registered
7-2 taken not earlier than the 30th day before the date the application
7-3 is filed; and
7-4 (4) a photograph and a statement of the dimensions of
7-5 the primary enclosure in which each animal is to be kept and a
7-6 scale diagram of the premises where each animal will be kept,
7-7 including the location of any residence on the premises.
7-8 (d) If an applicant holds a valid Class A or Class B
7-9 dealer's license or Class C exhibitor's license issued by the
7-10 secretary of agriculture of the United States under the Animal
7-11 Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. Section 2131 et seq.) and its subsequent
7-12 amendments, the applicant shall include a clear and legible
7-13 photocopy of the license with an application for an original or
7-14 renewal certificate of registration.
7-15 (e) In addition to the items required under Subsection (c),
7-16 an application for renewal must include a statement signed by a
7-17 veterinarian licensed to practice in this state stating that the
7-18 veterinarian:
7-19 (1) inspected each animal being registered not earlier
7-20 than the 30th day before the date of the filing of the renewal
7-21 application; and
7-22 (2) finds that the care and treatment of each animal
7-23 by the owner meets or exceeds the standards prescribed under this
7-24 subchapter.
7-25 Sec. 822.105. LIABILITY INSURANCE. The holder of a
7-26 certificate of registration issued by the animal registration
7-27 agency under this subchapter shall maintain liability insurance
8-1 coverage in an amount of not less than $100,000 for each occurrence
8-2 for liability for damages for destruction of or damage to property
8-3 and death or bodily injury to a person caused by any dangerous wild
8-4 animal owned by the holder.
8-5 Sec. 822.106. DENIAL OR REVOCATION OF CERTIFICATE OF
8-6 REGISTRATION. (a) If the animal registration agency finds that an
8-7 application for a certificate of registration or renewal under this
8-8 subchapter does not meet the requirements of Section 822.104 or,
8-9 after inspection, that an applicant has not complied with this
8-10 subchapter, the animal registration agency shall:
8-11 (1) deny the issuance of an original or renewal
8-12 certificate of registration; and
8-13 (2) notify the applicant in writing of the denial and
8-14 the reasons for the denial.
8-15 (b) If the animal registration agency finds, after
8-16 inspection, that a registered owner provided false information in
8-17 or in connection with the application or has not complied with this
8-18 subchapter, the animal registration agency shall revoke the
8-19 certificate of registration and give the owner written notice of
8-20 the revocation and the reasons for the revocation.
8-21 (c) A person may appeal the denial of an original or renewal
8-22 certificate of registration or the revocation of a certificate of
8-23 registration to a justice or municipal court not later than the
8-24 15th day after the date the person is notified that the original or
8-25 renewal certificate of registration has been denied or that the
8-26 certificate of registration has been revoked. Either party may
8-27 appeal the decision of the justice or municipal court.
9-1 (d) The filing of an appeal of the denial of a renewal
9-2 certificate of registration or the revocation of a certificate of
9-3 registration under Subsection (c) stays the denial or revocation
9-4 until the court rules on the appeal.
9-5 Sec. 822.107. FILING OF CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION. Not
9-6 later than the 10th day after the owner receives a certificate of
9-7 registration, the owner shall file a clear and legible copy of the
9-8 certificate of registration with the zoonosis control division of
9-9 the Texas Department of Health.
9-10 Sec. 822.108. DISPLAY OF CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION. The
9-11 holder of a certificate of registration shall prominently display
9-12 the certificate at the premises where each animal that is the
9-13 subject of the certificate of registration is kept.
9-14 Sec. 822.109. INSPECTION. An owner of a dangerous wild
9-15 animal, at all reasonable times, shall allow the animal
9-16 registration agency, its agents, or any licensed veterinarian
9-17 designated by the animal registration agency to enter the premises
9-18 where the animal is kept and to inspect the animal, the primary
9-19 enclosure for the animal, and the owner's records relating to the
9-20 animal to ensure compliance with this subchapter.
9-21 Sec. 822.110. RELOCATION OF ANIMAL. An owner of a dangerous
9-22 wild animal may not permanently relocate the animal unless the
9-23 owner first notifies the animal registration agency in writing of
9-24 the exact location to which the animal will be moved and provides
9-25 the animal registration agency, with respect to the new location,
9-26 the information required by Section 822.104.
9-27 Sec. 822.111. NOTICE OF SALE OR DEATH OF ANIMAL; NOTICE OF
10-1 INJURY INFLICTED BY ANIMAL. (a) Not later than the 10th day after
10-2 the date of the sale or other disposition or the death of a
10-3 dangerous wild animal, the owner of the animal shall notify the
10-4 animal registration agency in writing of the sale, disposition, or
10-5 death.
10-6 (b) Not later than 48 hours after the time that a dangerous
10-7 wild animal causes an injury to a human that requires medical
10-8 treatment, the owner of the animal shall report the injury to the
10-9 animal registration agency. Not later than the 10th day after the
10-10 date of the injury, the owner shall submit to the animal
10-11 registration agency a detailed written report regarding the nature
10-12 and circumstances of the injury.
10-13 Sec. 822.112. ESCAPE OF ANIMAL; LIABILITY. (a) An owner of
10-14 a dangerous wild animal shall immediately notify the animal
10-15 registration agency of any escape of the animal.
10-16 (b) The owner of a dangerous wild animal that escapes is
10-17 liable for all costs incurred in apprehending and confining the
10-18 animal.
10-19 (c) An animal control office or law enforcement agency or
10-20 the employees of an animal control office or law enforcement agency
10-21 are not liable to any person for damages arising in connection with
10-22 the escape of a dangerous wild animal, including liability for any
10-23 damage, injury, or death caused by the animal during or after the
10-24 animal's escape or any injury to or the death of the animal as a
10-25 result of apprehension or confinement of the animal after escape.
10-26 Sec. 822.113. MINIMUM SPACE REQUIREMENTS FOR DANGEROUS WILD
10-27 ANIMALS; DEVIATIONS. (a) The primary enclosure in which a
11-1 dangerous wild animal is kept must meet the minimum space
11-2 requirements applicable to that animal under this subchapter.
11-3 (b) On approval of the animal registration agency, an owner
11-4 may deviate from the minimum primary enclosure space requirements
11-5 of this subchapter because of:
11-6 (1) the age of the animal; or
11-7 (2) the use of an unusual enclosure design, such as a
11-8 moat, island, outdoor natural habitat enclosure, pit, or barrier.
11-9 (c) The animal registration agency may approve a deviation
11-10 under Subsection (b) only if the agency finds that the overall
11-11 welfare of the animal involved and the public's health and safety
11-12 have not been compromised by the deviation.
11-13 Sec. 822.114. MINIMUM SPACE REQUIREMENTS: GORILLAS. (a)
11-14 For one or two gorillas or for a pair of gorillas and their progeny
11-15 under the age of two years, the primary enclosure must have a floor
11-16 area of at least 500 square feet and a ceiling height of at least
11-17 eight feet.
11-18 (b) For each additional gorilla confined in the enclosure,
11-19 the floor area of the enclosure must be increased by 30 percent of
11-20 the minimum floor area required by Subsection (a).
11-21 Sec. 822.115. MINIMUM SPACE REQUIREMENTS: CHIMPANZEES. (a)
11-22 For one or two chimpanzees or for a pair of chimpanzees and their
11-23 progeny under the age of two years, the primary enclosure must have
11-24 a floor area of at least 300 square feet and a ceiling height of at
11-25 least 10 feet.
11-26 (b) For each additional chimpanzee confined in the
11-27 enclosure, the floor area of the enclosure must be increased by 30
12-1 percent of the minimum floor area required by Subsection (a).
12-2 Sec. 822.116. MINIMUM SPACE REQUIREMENTS: BABOONS. (a)
12-3 For one or two baboons or for a pair of baboons and their progeny
12-4 under the age of two years, the primary enclosure must have a floor
12-5 area of at least 200 square feet and a ceiling height of at least
12-6 eight feet.
12-7 (b) For each additional baboon confined in the enclosure,
12-8 the floor area of the enclosure must be increased by 30 percent of
12-9 the minimum floor area required by Subsection (a).
12-10 Sec. 822.117. MINIMUM SPACE REQUIREMENTS: BEARS. (a) For
12-11 one or two bears, the primary enclosure must have a floor area of
12-12 at least 600 square feet and a ceiling height of at least 10 feet.
12-13 (b) For each additional bear confined in the enclosure, the
12-14 floor area of the enclosure must be increased by 30 percent of the
12-15 minimum floor area required by Subsection (a).
12-16 Sec. 822.118. MINIMUM SPACE REQUIREMENTS: HYENAS. (a) For
12-17 one or two hyenas, the primary enclosure must have a floor area of
12-18 at least 300 square feet and a ceiling height of at least six feet.
12-19 (b) For each additional hyena confined in the enclosure, the
12-20 floor area of the enclosure must be increased by 30 percent of the
12-21 minimum floor area required by Subsection (a).
12-22 Sec. 822.119. MINIMUM SPACE REQUIREMENTS: LIONS, TIGERS,
12-23 CHEETAHS, AND SNOW LEOPARDS. (a) For one or two lions, tigers,
12-24 cheetahs, snow leopards, or hybrids of these animals, the primary
12-25 enclosure must have a floor area of at least 450 square feet and a
12-26 ceiling height of at least eight feet.
12-27 (b) For each additional lion, tiger, cheetah, snow leopard,
13-1 or hybrid animal confined in the enclosure, the floor area of the
13-2 enclosure must be increased by 30 percent of the minimum floor area
13-3 required by Subsection (a).
13-4 Sec. 822.120. MINIMUM SPACE REQUIREMENTS: COUGARS,
13-5 LEOPARDS, AND JAGUARS. (a) For one or two cougars, leopards,
13-6 jaguars, or hybrids of these animals, the primary enclosure must
13-7 have a floor area of at least 300 square feet and a ceiling height
13-8 of at least eight feet.
13-9 (b) For each additional cougar, leopard, jaguar, or hybrid
13-10 animal confined in the enclosure, the floor area of the enclosure
13-11 must be increased by 30 percent of the minimum floor area required
13-12 by Subsection (a).
13-13 Sec. 822.121. MINIMUM SPACE REQUIREMENTS: OCELOTS. (a)
13-14 For one or two ocelots or hybrids of ocelots, the primary enclosure
13-15 must have a floor area of at least 80 square feet and a ceiling
13-16 height of at least eight feet.
13-17 (b) For each additional ocelot or hybrid animal confined in
13-18 the enclosure, the floor area of the enclosure must be increased by
13-19 30 percent of the minimum floor area required by Subsection (a).
13-20 Sec. 822.122. CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR PRIMARY
13-21 ENCLOSURES. (a) The primary enclosure in which a dangerous wild
13-22 animal is kept must meet the following specifications:
13-23 (1) the primary enclosure for a lion, tiger, jaguar,
13-24 snow leopard, bear, baboon, or any hybrid of these animals must be
13-25 constructed with not less than nine-gauge chain link or its
13-26 strength and design equivalent;
13-27 (2) the primary enclosure for a leopard, cougar,
14-1 ocelot, cheetah, hyena, or any hybrid of these animals must be
14-2 constructed with not less than 11-1/2 gauge chain link or its
14-3 strength and design equivalent; and
14-4 (3) the primary enclosure for a chimpanzee or gorilla
14-5 must be constructed of steel bars, two-inch galvanized pipe,
14-6 masonry block, or their strength equivalent.
14-7 (b) A primary enclosure constructed of chain link or its
14-8 strength equivalent must be well braced and securely anchored at
14-9 ground level and must use metal corners, clamps, ties, and braces
14-10 of strength equivalent to other materials prescribed for primary
14-11 enclosure construction for the species confined in the enclosure.
14-12 (c) A primary enclosure must be equipped with a lock and
14-13 locking mechanism to prevent an unauthorized person from opening
14-14 the enclosure.
14-15 (d) A primary enclosure must be equipped with safety
14-16 barriers to prevent physical contact with the animal by an
14-17 unauthorized person.
14-18 (e) A primary enclosure must be designed and constructed to
14-19 prevent the escape of the animal.
14-20 Sec. 822.123. CARE, TREATMENT, AND TRANSPORTATION OF ANIMAL.
14-21 (a) For each dangerous wild animal, the owner shall comply with
14-22 all applicable standards of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C.
14-23 Section 2131 et seq.) and its subsequent amendments and the
14-24 regulations adopted under that Act relating to:
14-25 (1) facilities and operations;
14-26 (2) animal health and husbandry; and
14-27 (3) veterinary care.
15-1 (b) An owner of a dangerous wild animal shall maintain a
15-2 separate written log for each dangerous wild animal documenting the
15-3 animal's veterinary care and shall make the log available to the
15-4 animal registration agency or its agent on request. The log must:
15-5 (1) identify the animal treated;
15-6 (2) provide the date of treatment;
15-7 (3) describe the type or nature of treatment; and
15-8 (4) provide the name of the attending veterinarian, if
15-9 applicable.
15-10 (c) When transporting a dangerous wild animal, the owner of
15-11 the animal, or a designated carrier or intermediate handler of the
15-12 animal, shall comply with all transportation standards that apply
15-13 to that animal under the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. Section 2131
15-14 et seq.) and its subsequent amendments or the regulations adopted
15-15 under that Act.
15-16 (d) A person is exempt from the requirements of this section
15-17 that are applicable to an animal for which the person holds a Class
15-18 A or Class B dealer's license or a Class C exhibitor's license
15-19 issued by the secretary of agriculture of the United States under
15-20 the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. Section 2131 et seq.) and its
15-21 subsequent amendments.
15-22 Sec. 822.124. OFFENSE AND PENALTY. (a) A person commits an
15-23 offense if the person violates Section 822.103(a). Each animal
15-24 with respect to which there is a violation and each day a violation
15-25 continues is a separate offense.
15-26 (b) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
15-27 Sec. 822.125. CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A person who violates
16-1 Section 822.103(a) is liable for a civil penalty of not less than
16-2 $200 and not more than $2,000 for each animal with respect to which
16-3 there is a violation and for each day the violation continues.
16-4 (b) The county or municipality where the violation occurs
16-5 may sue to collect a civil penalty. A civil penalty collected
16-6 under this subsection may be retained by the county or
16-7 municipality.
16-8 (c) The county or municipality where the violation occurs
16-9 may also recover the reasonable costs of investigation, reasonable
16-10 attorney's fees, and reasonable expert witness fees incurred by the
16-11 animal registration agency in the civil action. Costs or fees
16-12 recovered under this subsection shall be credited to the operating
16-13 account from which payment for the expenditures was made.
16-14 Sec. 822.126. INJUNCTION. Any person who is directly harmed
16-15 or threatened with harm by a violation of this subchapter or a
16-16 failure to enforce this subchapter may sue the owner of a dangerous
16-17 wild animal to enjoin a violation of this subchapter or to enforce
16-18 this subchapter.
16-19 Sec. 822.127. EFFECT OF SUBCHAPTER ON OTHER LAW. (a) This
16-20 subchapter does not affect the applicability of:
16-21 (1) Subchapter B, Chapter 821;
16-22 (2) Subchapter C, Chapter 43, and Chapters 67 and 68,
16-23 Parks and Wildlife Code, and rules adopted under those laws;
16-24 (3) Subchapter A, Chapter 240, Local Government Code,
16-25 or an order adopted under that subchapter;
16-26 (4) Section 42.09, Penal Code; or
16-27 (5) any other law, rule, order, ordinance, or other
17-1 legal requirement of this state or a political subdivision of this
17-2 state.
17-3 (b) This subchapter does not prevent a municipality or
17-4 county from prohibiting or regulating by ordinance or order the
17-5 ownership, possession, or confinement of or regulating the care of
17-6 a dangerous wild animal.
17-7 SECTION 2. The heading to Subchapter A, Chapter 240, Local
17-8 Government Code, is amended to read as follows:
17-9 SUBCHAPTER A. REGULATION OF KEEPING OF DANGEROUS WILD ANIMALS
17-10 SECTION 3. Section 240.0025, Local Government Code, is
17-11 amended to read as follows:
17-12 Sec. 240.0025. REGULATION OF DANGEROUS WILD ANIMALS. (a)
17-13 The commissioners court of a county by order may prohibit or
17-14 regulate the keeping of a dangerous wild animal in the county.
17-15 (b) [The order does not apply:]
17-16 [(1) inside the limits of a municipality; or]
17-17 [(2) to an exhibitor licensed under the Animal Welfare
17-18 Act (7 U.S.C. Section 2131 et seq.).]
17-19 [(c)] In this section, "dangerous wild animal" has the
17-20 meaning assigned by Section 822.101, Health and Safety Code [means
17-21 a lion, tiger, ocelot, cougar, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, hyena,
17-22 bear, lesser panda, binturong, wolf, ape, elephant, and
17-23 rhinoceros].
17-24 SECTION 4. (a) Except as provided by this section, this Act
17-25 takes effect September 1, 1999.
17-26 (b) Section 822.124, Health and Safety Code, as added by
17-27 this Act, takes effect June 1, 2000.
18-1 SECTION 5. (a) A person is not required to obtain a
18-2 certificate of registration for a dangerous wild animal under
18-3 Subchapter E, Chapter 822, Health and Safety Code, as added by this
18-4 Act, before June 1, 2000.
18-5 (b) Not later than December 1, 1999, each municipality and
18-6 county shall adopt any ordinance or order necessary to implement
18-7 and administer the certificate of registration program created by
18-8 Subchapter E, Chapter 822, Health and Safety Code, as added by this
18-9 Act, including ordinances or orders relating to the application for
18-10 an original and renewal certificate of registration, fees for
18-11 registration and renewal, and the form and content of the
18-12 application and the certificate of registration.
18-13 SECTION 6. The importance of this legislation and the
18-14 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
18-15 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
18-16 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
18-17 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.