H.B. No. 3061




AN ACT

relating to regulation of the disposal of animal remains.                     
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 161.004, Agriculture Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
	Sec. 161.004.  DISPOSAL OF DISEASED LIVESTOCK CARCASS.  
(a)  A person who is the owner or caretaker of livestock that die 
from a disease listed in Section 161.041 of this code, or who owns 
or controls the land on which the livestock die or on which the 
carcasses are found, shall, within 24 hours after the carcasses are 
found:
		(1)  bury the carcass of each animal by digging a grave 
five feet deep, placing the carcass in the grave, covering the 
carcass with lime, and filling the grave with dirt; or
		(2)  set fire to the carcass of each animal and burn it 
until it is thoroughly consumed.
	(b)  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality may not 
adopt a rule related to the disposal of livestock under this section 
unless the rule is developed in cooperation with and is approved by 
the Texas Animal Health Commission.
	SECTION 2.  Section 161.0415, Agriculture Code, is amended 
by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
	(d)  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality may not 
adopt a rule related to the disposal of livestock under this section 
unless the rule is developed in cooperation with and is approved by 
the Texas Animal Health Commission.
	SECTION 3.  Section 801.361, Occupations Code, is amended by 
adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
	(d)  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality may not 
adopt a rule that relates to the disposal of animal remains under 
this section unless the rule is developed in cooperation with and is 
approved by the Texas Animal Health Commission.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.                           




______________________________              ______________________________
 
   President of the Senate                               Speaker of the House      

	I certify that H.B. No. 3061 was passed by the House on May 2, 
2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 136, Nays 0, 2 present, not 
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. 
No. 3061 on May 30, 2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 145, Nays 0, 
2 present, not voting.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House   

	
I certify that H.B. No. 3061 was passed by the Senate, with 
amendments, on May 28, 2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 
0.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                      Secretary of the Senate   



APPROVED: __________________                                                
 
                Date                                                         




 
         __________________                                              
 
              Governor