83R7784 SLB-D
 
  By: Button H.B. No. 1446
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the supervision required for certain persons who
  administer rabies vaccinations.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 826.023, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (f) to
  read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (f), rabies [Rabies]
  vaccine for animals may be administered only by or under the direct
  supervision of a veterinarian.
         (f)  A trained staff member of a municipal or county animal
  shelter may administer rabies vaccine to an animal kept or
  impounded at the animal shelter under the general supervision of a
  veterinarian.  For the purposes of this subsection, "animal
  shelter" has the meaning assigned by Section 823.001 and "general
  supervision" has the meaning assigned by Section 801.002,
  Occupations Code.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter H, Chapter 801, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Section 801.3515 to read as follows:
         Sec. 801.3515.  EXCEPTION TO VETERINARIAN-CLIENT-PATIENT
  RELATIONSHIP REQUIREMENT FOR CERTAIN PERSONS WHO ADMINISTER RABIES
  VACCINE. A person who administers rabies vaccine under the general
  supervision of a veterinarian as provided by Section 826.023(f),
  Health and Safety Code, and the veterinarian who provides that
  supervision are not required to establish a
  veterinarian-client-patient relationship before administering the
  rabies vaccine.
         SECTION 3.  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.