BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 590
79R9302 QS-D By: Jackson, Mike
S/C on Agriculture & Coastal Resources
Committee Report (Substituted)
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The use of certificates of veterinary inspection, often called health certificates, ensures that only healthy and disease-free animals are moved within the state or exported to other states or countries. A licensed, accredited veterinarian signs a certificate of veterinary inspection after having visually inspected such animals before issuing a certificate. A fee of twenty-five cents for each certificate was established by a statute in 1981. This fee no longer covers the costs of printing the certificates.
C.S.S.B. 590 authorizes the Texas Animal Health Commission to set and charge a fee for veterinary inspection certificates.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Animal Health Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 161.0601, Agriculture Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 161, Agriculture Code, by adding Section 161.0601, as follows:
Sec. 161.0601. CERTIFICATES OF VETERINARY INSPECTION. (a) Authorizes the Texas Animal Health Commission (commission), by rule, to provide for the issuance of a certificate of veterinary inspection by a veterinarian to a person transporting livestock, exotic livestock, domestic fowl, or exotic fowl.
(b) Requires the commission, by rule, to set and charge a fee for each certificate of veterinary inspection provided to a veterinarian under this section.
SECTION 2. Repealer: Section 161.081(d) (regarding a 25-cent fee for each certificate issued), Agriculture Code.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2005.