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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the identification of breeder deer by microchips. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 43.351(5), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(5) "Durable identification tag" means a single tag |
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not easily dislodged or removed and made of a material that is not |
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likely to disintegrate or decompose. The term includes[, but is
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not limited to,] newly developed technologies, including a |
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microchip implant and other radio frequency identification tags. |
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SECTION 2. Section 43.3561, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 43.3561. IDENTIFICATION OF BREEDER DEER. (a) Not |
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later than March 31 of the year following the year in which the |
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breeder deer is born, a breeder deer held in a permitted deer |
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breeding facility must be identified by placing on each breeder |
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deer possessed by the deer breeder a single[, reasonably visible,] |
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durable identification tag bearing an alphanumeric number of not |
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more than four characters assigned by the department to the |
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breeding facility in which the breeder deer was born and unique to |
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that breeder deer. A deer breeder is not required to remove the tag |
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for any purpose but may remove the tag and replace the tag |
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immediately to meet the requirements of this section. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (d), a [A] person may |
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not remove or knowingly permit the removal of a breeder deer held in |
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a facility by a permittee under this subchapter unless the breeder |
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deer has been permanently and legibly tattooed in one ear with the |
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unique identification number assigned to the breeder in lawful |
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possession of the breeder deer and specific to the breeding |
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facility in which the breeder deer was born or initially introduced |
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if from an out-of-state source. |
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(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), a [A] person may |
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not knowingly accept or permit the acceptance of a breeder deer into |
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a facility regulated under this subchapter unless the breeder deer |
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has been permanently and legibly tattooed in one ear with the unique |
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identification number assigned to the breeder in lawful possession |
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of the breeder deer and specific to the facility in which the |
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breeder deer was born or initially introduced if from an |
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out-of-state source. |
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(d) Instead of using a tattoo to identify a breeder deer |
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under Subsection (b) or (c), a deer breeder may identify a deer by |
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using a durable identification tag that is a microchip implanted |
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under the deer's skin. |
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(e) The commission may adopt rules governing the use of |
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durable identification tags for identifying breeder deer under this |
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section. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |