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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the regulation of dangerous pets by certain populous |
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counties; providing a criminal penalty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 822, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Subchapter F to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER F. DANGEROUS PETS |
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Sec. 822.151. APPLICABILITY. This subchapter applies only |
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to a county with a population of 3.3 million or more. |
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Sec. 822.152. COUNTIES MAY ADOPT ORDERS. The |
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commissioners court of a county by order may prohibit or otherwise |
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regulate in the county the keeping of pets the court determines are |
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dangerous. |
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Sec. 822.153. FEE. As part of the regulation, the |
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commissioners court may impose a fee on the person who owns or keeps |
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a dangerous pet for any action the county takes with regard to the |
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pet, including: |
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(1) issuing a permit or other form of authorization to |
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keep the pet; |
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(2) performing an inspection of the premises where the |
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pet is kept; or |
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(3) confining, evaluating, or testing the pet. |
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Sec. 822.154. CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) A person commits an |
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offense if the person fails to comply with an order adopted under |
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this subchapter. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), an offense under |
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this section is a Class C misdemeanor. |
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(c) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor |
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if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the defendant has |
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previously been convicted under this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |