SRC-JLB H.B. 151 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 151 By: Farabee, et al. (Estes) Subcommittee on Agriculture 4/7/2003 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, Texas ranchers and cattlemen are losing livestock because of domestic dog attacks. No statewide statute protects the owners of livestock who may need to use deadly force to protect their livestock from these attacks. H.B. 151 amends Chapter 822 of the Texas Health and Safety Code to uniformly include livestock, including exotic livestock, to allow owners of livestock to protect these animals and to make domestic dog owners more accountable for their animals' actions. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 822, Health and Safety Code, by amending Section 822.011(a), transferring Sections 822.033 and 822.034 to Subchapter B, renumbering those sections as Sections 822.012 and 822.013, respectively, and amending those sections, and adding Section 822.014, as follows: (a) Prohibits the owner, keeper, or person in control of a dog that the owner, keeper, or person knows is accustomed to run, worry, or kill goats, sheep, poultry, calves, or other livestock from permitting the dog to run at large. Sec. 822.012. DOGS THAT ATTACK DOMESTIC ANIMALS. (a) Authorizes a dog that is attacking, is about to attack, or has recently attacked sheep, goats, calves, or other livestock or domestic animals or fowls to be killed by any person witnessing or having knowledge of the attack. (b) Makes no changes. (c) Makes a conforming change. (d) Makes a conforming change. Deletes text authorizing certain law enforcement officers and other officials to enter the premises and kill certain dogs if the owner fails to do so. Sec. 822.013. PROTECTION OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS. Authorizes the owner of any sheep, goats, calves, or other livestock or domestic animals that are subject to the ravages of dogs that kill livestock or domestic animals to place poison on the premises where the animals are kept. Sec. 822.014. EXOTIC LIVESTOCK INCLUDED. Defines "livestock." SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2003.