H.B. No. 1819

AN ACT

relating to liability for injuring a trespassing sheep or goat.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 143.033, Agriculture Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 143.033. INJURY TO TRESPASSING ANIMAL. If a person whose fence is insufficient under this subchapter maims, wounds, or kills a head of cattle or a horse, mule, jack, [or] jennet, sheep, or goat, or procures the maiming, wounding, or killing of one of those animals, by any means, including a gun or a dog, the person is liable to the owner of the animal for damages. This section does not authorize a person to maim, wound, or kill any horse, mule, jack, jennet, sheep, goat, or head of cattle of another person.

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act to Section 143.033, Agriculture Code, applies only to a person who maims, wounds, kills, or procures the maiming, wounding, or killing of a sheep or goat on or after the effective date of this Act. A person who maims, wounds, kills, or procures the maiming, wounding, or killing of a sheep or goat before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the maiming, wounding, killing, or procurement occurred, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 1819 was passed by the House on April 26, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 131, Nays 2, 1 present, not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 1819 was passed by the Senate on May 20, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________

Date

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Governor