81R10971 PMO-D
 
  By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1806
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to liens for certain veterinary care charges for large
  animals.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 70, Property Code, is
  amended by adding Section 70.010 to read as follows:
         Sec. 70.010.  LIENS FOR VETERINARY CARE CHARGES FOR LARGE
  ANIMALS. (a) In this section, "large animal" means exotic
  livestock or a cow, horse, mule, ass, sheep, goat, llama, alpaca,
  farm elk, or hog. The term does not include a common household pet
  such as a cat or dog.
         (b)  A veterinarian licensed under Chapter 801, Occupations
  Code, has a lien on a large animal and the proceeds from the
  disposition of the large animal to secure the cost of veterinary
  care the veterinarian provided to the large animal.
         (c)  A lien under this section:
               (1)  attaches on the date the veterinarian first
  provides care to the large animal;
               (2)  attaches regardless of whether the veterinarian
  retains possession of the large animal; and
               (3)  takes priority over all other liens on the large
  animal and the proceeds from a disposition of the large animal
  regardless of whether the lien under this section was created or
  perfected after the date on which another lien was created or
  perfected.
         (d)  The veterinarian may retain possession of a large animal
  under this section and enforce a lien under this section as provided
  by Section 70.005(c).
         (e)  A veterinarian who does not retain possession of a large
  animal under this section may enforce a lien under this section in
  the same manner as a statutory landlord's lien.
         SECTION 2.  Section 70.010, Property Code, as added by this
  Act, applies only to an amount that becomes due to a veterinarian on
  or after the effective date of this Act. An amount that becomes due
  to a veterinarian before the effective date of this Act is governed
  by the law as it existed immediately before the effective date of
  this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.