BILL ANALYSIS
By: Guillen
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
In the continental United States, the cattle tick program began in 1906. Cattle fever ticks were eradicated by 1943. Since then, occasional outbreaks were eradicated. Tick inspectors maintain a barrier zone along the Texas-Mexico border. In Puerto Rico, the program began in 1936. By 1952, cattle fever ticks were eradicated. The Texas cattle tick program is a cooperative Federal-State-Industry program. Program features are: inspection, quarantine, epidemiology, treatment of infested and exposed animals, and vacating pastures. In 1906, when the program began, losses from cattle fever ticks were $40 to $60 million annually. The benefit/cost ratio for the Texas program was estimated to be 172:1 in 1976. The goal of H.B. 2611 is to prevent the re-establishment of the cattle fever tick in the United States, maintain a permanent buffer zone along the Texas-Mexico border, and assist those who have an outbreak of fever ticks on their property with appraisal values.
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
H.B. 2611 provides that an owner of land designated for agricultural use or an owner of qualified open-space land, other than land used for wildlife management that is in an area designated as a tick eradication quarantine area by the Texas Animal Health Commission may at any time request reappraisal of the owner's land. In determining the appraised value of the land, the bill provides that the effect on the value of the land caused by the infestation of ticks is an additional factor that must be taken into account. The bill provides for payment of the costs of the reappraisal and for the proration of property taxes
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2005.