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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study regarding the prohibition of dairy farming in |
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certain areas of the state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) In this Act: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Texas Animal Health |
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Commission. |
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(2) "Department" means the Department of State Health |
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Services. |
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(b) The commission shall conduct a study regarding the |
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current risk level for bovine tuberculosis, as determined |
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epidemiologically and defined by rule of the commission, in areas |
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of this state determined by the commission by rule to be infected |
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with or at high risk for bovine tuberculosis. |
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(c) Not later than September 1, 2014, the commission shall |
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submit a report regarding the results of the study to the Department |
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of Agriculture, the governor, the lieutenant governor, the House |
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Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, the Senate Committee on |
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Agriculture, Rural Affairs, and Homeland Security, the House |
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Committee on Public Health, and the Senate Committee on Health and |
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Human Services. The report must include: |
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(1) an economic impact statement that projects the |
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financial impact of allowing dairy farming in areas determined by |
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the commission by rule to be infected with or at high risk for |
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bovine tuberculosis; |
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(2) an assessment of the risk level for bovine |
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tuberculosis presented by areas in Mexico bordering this state; |
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(3) a description of the efforts taken by the Ministry |
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of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food |
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and other agencies of the United Mexican States to eliminate bovine |
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tuberculosis in the state of Chihuahua and other areas; |
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(4) a description of the current practices adopted by |
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the United States Department of Agriculture and the commission to |
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eliminate bovine tuberculosis; |
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(5) an assessment of the risk level for bovine |
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tuberculosis for the state if dairy farming were to occur in areas |
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determined by the commission by rule to be infected with or at high |
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risk for bovine tuberculosis; and |
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(6) an assessment of whether the areas determined by |
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the commission by rule to be infected with or at high risk for |
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bovine tuberculosis could be decreased in size. |
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(d) As soon as practicable, the commission shall present the |
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report regarding the results of the study at an open meeting of the |
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commission. |
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(e) This Act expires October 1, 2014. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |