BILL ANALYSIS
By: Hardcastle
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Current law requires an authorized inspector with the Texas Animal Health Commission to be present at all livestock markets. This creates an untenable burden on animal inspectors who are stretched to the limit under normal conditions. When an emergency occurs of an outbreak of some disease such as avian influenza, inspectors are pulled from their normal duties to respond to emergencies. This bill will allow the Texas Animal Health Commission the authority and the ability to assign an inspector to another duty of higher priority when necessary.
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
This bill amends the current requirement to have commission inspectors at all livestock markets to allow the Texas Animal Health Commission the ability to determine the involvement of commission inspectors at the various markets.
EFFECTIVE DATE
This bill takes effect September 1, 2005, or immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house.