H.B. No. 2042

AN ACT

relating to the notice requirements following impoundment of an estray.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 142.009(d), Agriculture Code, is amended to read as follows:

(d) If the owner of the estray is unknown, the sheriff or the sheriff's designee shall make a diligent search for the identity of the owner of the estray, including a search in the county register of recorded brands, if the animal has an identifiable brand. If the search does not reveal the owner, the sheriff shall post a notice of the impoundment of the estray on the public notice board of the courthouse and advertise the impoundment of the estray:

(1) in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least twice during the 15 days after the date of impoundment; or

(2) on the county's Internet website for at least 15 days after the date of impoundment [and shall post a notice of the impoundment on the public notice board of the courthouse].

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 2042 was passed by the House on April 22, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 149, Nays 0, 1 present, not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 2042 was passed by the Senate on May 7, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________

Date

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Governor