By: Jackson S.B. No. 499
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the identification of breeder deer by microchips.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subdivision (5), Section 43.351, Parks and
  Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:
               (5)  "Durable identification tag" means a single tag
  that is not easily dislodged or removed, is [and] made of a material
  that is not likely to disintegrate or decompose, and bears an
  alphanumeric identifier approved by the department that is unique
  to the breeder deer to which it is attached or implanted.  The term
  includes a department-approved external tag, microchip implant, or
  other identification device that meets the requirements of this
  definition.  [The term includes, but is not limited to, newly
  developed technologies, including radio frequency identification
  tags.]
         SECTION 2.  Section 43.3561, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 43.3561.  IDENTIFICATION OF BREEDER DEER.  (a)  Not
  later than March 31 of the year following the year in which a [the]
  breeder deer is born, the [a] breeder deer held in a permitted deer
  breeding facility must be identified by:
               (1)  affixing to the deer an external durable
  identification tag that is reasonably visible;
               (2)  implanting a durable identification tag that is a
  microchip; or
               (3)  affixing or implanting, as appropriate, any other
  department-approved durable identification tag [placing on each
  breeder deer possessed by the deer breeder a single, reasonably
  visible, durable identification tag bearing an alphanumeric number
  of not more than four characters assigned by the department to the
  breeding facility in which the breeder deer was born and unique to
  that breeder deer].
         (b)  A deer breeder is not required to remove the durable
  identification tag for any purpose but may remove the tag and
  replace the tag immediately to meet the requirements of this
  section.
         (c)  Except as provided by Subsection (e), a [(b)  A] person
  may not remove or knowingly permit the removal of a breeder deer
  held in a facility by a permittee under this subchapter unless the
  breeder deer has been permanently and legibly tattooed in one ear
  with the unique alphanumeric identifier approved by the department 
  [identification number assigned to the breeder in lawful possession
  of the breeder deer and specific to the breeding facility in which
  the breeder deer was born or initially introduced if from an
  out-of-state source].
         (d)  Except as provided by Subsection (e), a [(c)  A] person
  may not knowingly accept or permit the acceptance of a breeder deer
  into a facility regulated under this subchapter unless the breeder
  deer has been permanently and legibly tattooed in one ear with the
  unique alphanumeric identifier approved by the department 
  [identification number assigned to the breeder in lawful possession
  of the breeder deer and specific to the facility in which the
  breeder deer was born or initially introduced if from an
  out-of-state source].
         (e)  Instead of using a tattoo to identify a breeder deer
  under Subsection (c) or (d), a deer breeder may identify a deer by
  using a department-approved microchip implanted under the deer's
  skin or other department-approved identification device.
         SECTION 3.  Subsection (b), Section 43.357, Parks and
  Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The commission may make regulations governing:
               (1)  the possession of breeder deer held under the
  authority of this subchapter;
               (2)  the recapture of lawfully possessed breeder deer
  that have escaped from the facility of a deer breeder;
               (3)  permit applications and fees;
               (4)  reporting requirements;
               (5)  procedures and requirements for the purchase,
  transfer, sale, or shipment of breeder deer;
               (6)  the endorsement of a deer breeder facility by a
  certified wildlife biologist;
               (7)  the number of breeder deer that a deer breeder may
  possess; [and]
               (8)  the dates for which a deer breeder permit is valid;
  and
               (9)  the use of durable identification tags for
  identifying breeder deer under this section.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.