SRC-MWN S.B. 612 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 612
77R151 BDH-DBy: Haywood
Natural Resources
2/16/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Section 49.2(a)(3), Texas Administration Code, requires that any
horse brought into the State of Texas on a VS 127 travel permit alone for
veterinary treatment return "immediately to the state of origin by the most
direct route." The owner is required to then notify the Animal Health
Commission that the horse has a valid health certificate showing a negative
equine infectious anemia (EIA) test result before re-entering the state. As
proposed, S.B. 612 allows a horse that enters the state on a VS 127 travel
permit for veterinary treatment and receives a valid health certificate
showing a negative EIA test result to remain in the state, instead of
immediately returning to the home state by the most direct route. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Department of Agriculture
in SECTION 1 (Section 161.082, Agriculture Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 161E, Agriculture Code, by adding Section
161.082, as follows: 

Sec. 161.082. NEGATIVE EQUINE INFECTIOUS ANEMIA TEST. Defines "equine
animal." Authorizes an equine animal entering this state, except as
provided by Subsection (d), to remain in this state only if the animal
tests negative for equine infectious anemia during the 12 months preceding
the date the animal enters this state as evidenced by a certificate of
veterinary inspection or other method approved by the Department of
Agriculture (department) by rule. Requires an equine animal entering this
state that does not test negative for equine infectious anemia during the
12 months preceding the date the animal enters this state in compliance
with Subsection (b) to be transported to a licensed veterinarian as soon as
practicable after arriving at a destination in this state and be tested by
the veterinarian for equine infectious anemia. Authorizes an equine animal
that tests negative for equine infectious anemia under Subsection (c) and
for which the testing veterinarian issues a certificate of veterinary
inspection indicating the negative test to remain in this state. Requires
an equine animal that tests positive for equine infectious anemia under
Subsection (c) to be returned immediately to the animal's state of origin
by the most direct route. Requires the rules of the Texas Animal Health
Commission (commission) adopted under Section 161.181 to be consistent with
this section. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001.