By: M. Gonzalez of El Paso, Nevarez H.B. No. 1081
       (Senate Sponsor - Rodriguez)
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 6, 2013;
  May 7, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on
  Agriculture, Rural Affairs, and Homeland Security; May 15, 2013,
  reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 4, Nays 0;
  May 15, 2013, sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to a study regarding the prohibition of dairy farming in
  certain areas of the state.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  (a) In this Act:
               (1)  "Commission" means the Texas Animal Health
  Commission.
               (2)  "Department" means the Department of State Health
  Services.
         (b)  The commission shall conduct a study regarding the
  current risk level for bovine tuberculosis, as determined
  epidemiologically and defined by rule of the commission, in areas
  of this state determined by the commission by rule to be infected
  with or at high risk for bovine tuberculosis.
         (c)  Not later than September 1, 2014, the commission shall
  submit a report regarding the results of the study to the Department
  of Agriculture, the governor, the lieutenant governor, the House
  Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, the Senate Committee on
  Agriculture, Rural Affairs, and Homeland Security, the House
  Committee on Public Health, and the Senate Committee on Health and
  Human Services. The report must include:
               (1)  to the extent possible, an assessment of the risk
  level for bovine tuberculosis presented by areas in Mexico
  bordering this state;
               (2)  to the extent possible, a description of the
  efforts taken by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural
  Development, Fisheries and Food and other agencies of the United
  Mexican States to eliminate bovine tuberculosis in the state of
  Chihuahua and other areas;
               (3)  a description of the current practices adopted by
  the United States Department of Agriculture and the commission to
  eliminate bovine tuberculosis;
               (4)  an assessment of the risk level for bovine
  tuberculosis for the state if dairy farming were to occur in areas
  determined by the commission by rule to be infected with or at high
  risk for bovine tuberculosis; and
               (5)  an assessment of whether the areas determined by
  the commission by rule to be infected with or at high risk for
  bovine tuberculosis could be decreased in size.
         (d)  As soon as practicable, the commission shall present the
  report regarding the results of the study at an open meeting of the
  commission.
         (e)  This Act expires October 1, 2014.
         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, 2013.
 
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