HBA-BSM H.B. 1686 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1686 By: Kolkhorst Agriculture & Livestock 2/26/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the Texas Animal Health Commission (commission) has a list of diseases that should be reported to the commission within 24 hours of a diagnosis. House Bill 1686 requires a veterinarian to report the existence of specified diseases to the commission within 24 hours after diagnosis, and authorizes the commission to require veterinarians to report other diseases. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 1686 amends the Agriculture Code to require veterinarians to report specified diseases among livestock, exotic livestock, domestic fowl, or exotic livestock to the Texas Animal Health Commission (commission) within 24 hours of diagnosis of the disease. The bill authorizes the commission to adopt rules that require a veterinarian to report a disease that is not covered on the specified disease list if the commission determines that action is necessary for the protection of animal health in the state. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.