By Haywood                                             S.B. No. 612
         77R151 BDH-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to testing of equine infectious anemia.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 161, Agriculture Code, is
 1-5     amended by adding Section 161.082 to read as follows:
 1-6           Sec. 161.082.  NEGATIVE EQUINE INFECTIOUS ANEMIA TEST. (a)
 1-7     In this section, "equine animal" means a horse, mule, ass, pony, or
 1-8     other member of the horse family, but does not include a zebra.
 1-9           (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (d), an equine animal
1-10     entering this state may remain in this state only if the animal
1-11     tests negative for equine infectious anemia during the 12 months
1-12     preceding the date the animal enters this state as evidenced by a
1-13     certificate of veterinary inspection or other method approved by
1-14     the department by rule.
1-15           (c)  An equine animal entering this state that does not test
1-16     negative for equine infectious anemia during the 12 months
1-17     preceding the date the animal enters this state in compliance with
1-18     Subsection (b) must be transported to a licensed veterinarian as
1-19     soon as practicable after arriving at a destination in this state
1-20     and be tested by the veterinarian for equine infectious anemia.
1-21           (d)  An equine animal that tests negative for equine
1-22     infectious anemia under Subsection (c) and for which the testing
1-23     veterinarian issues a certificate of veterinary inspection
1-24     indicating the negative test result may remain in this state.
 2-1           (e)  An equine animal that tests positive for equine
 2-2     infectious anemia under Subsection (c) must be returned immediately
 2-3     to the animal's state of origin by the most direct route.
 2-4           (f)  The rules of the commission adopted under Section
 2-5     161.081 must be consistent with this section.
 2-6           SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.