83R5520 KKR-F
 
  By: Farrar H.B. No. 3748
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the costs associated with proceedings regarding cruelly
  treated animals; authorizing fees and costs.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 821.023(e), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (e)  After a court finds that an animal's owner has cruelly
  treated the animal, the court may order the owner to pay the
  county's or municipality's reasonable attorney's fees, and shall
  order the owner to pay all court costs, including:
               (1)  the administrative costs of:
                     (A)  investigation;
                     (B)  expert witnesses; and
                     (C)  conducting any public sale ordered by the
  court; and
               (2)  the costs incurred by a municipal or county animal
  shelter or a nonprofit animal welfare organization in:
                     (A)  housing and caring for the animal during its
  impoundment; and
                     (B)  humanely destroying the animal if
  destruction is ordered by the court.
         SECTION 2.  Section 821.025, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (i) to read as follows:
         (i)  After a county court or county court at law finds that an
  animal's owner has cruelly treated the animal, the court may order
  the owner to pay the county's or municipality's reasonable
  attorney's fees and court costs, including the costs of
  investigation and expert witnesses.
         SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a proceeding commenced under Section 821.023 or 821.025, Health
  and Safety Code, on or after the effective date of this Act. A
  proceeding commenced before the effective date of this Act is
  covered by the law in effect at the time the proceeding is
  commenced, and the former law is continued in effect for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.