C.S.H.B. 151 78 )    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.B. 151
By: Farabee
Agriculture & Livestock
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Many Texas ranchers and cattlemen are losing livestock due to attacks by
domestic dogs.  Currently, there is no statewide statute that protects the
owners of livestock who may need to use deadly force to protect their
livestock from these attacks.  C.S.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

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 151 amends Chapter 822, Subchapter B, Health and Safety Code, to
include calves or other livestock  including exotic livestock as defined
by Section 161.001, Agriculture Code.  The bill moves provisions currently
under the local option law under Subchapter C of the Health and Safety
Code into general law under Subchapter B of the same Code. 


EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.


COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 151 modifies the original by adding a subsection to include
"exotic livestock" under Subchapter B of the Health and Safety Code.  The
substitute differs from the original in that it does not transfer a
provision under Subchapter C, relating to unmuzzled dogs.