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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to methods used by an animal shelter to euthanize a dog or |
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cat. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 821.051, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by amending Subdivisions (3) and (4) and adding Subdivision |
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(5) to read as follows: |
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(3) "Board" means the executive commissioner [Texas
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Board of Health]. |
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(4) "Department" means the [Texas] Department of State |
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Health Services. |
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(5) "Executive commissioner" means the executive |
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commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission. |
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SECTION 2. Subsection (a), Section 821.052, Health and |
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Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A person may euthanize a dog or cat in the custody of an |
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animal shelter only by administering sodium pentobarbital [or
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commercially compressed carbon monoxide]. |
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SECTION 3. Section 821.054, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 821.054. REQUIREMENTS FOR USE OF COMMERCIALLY |
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COMPRESSED CARBON MONOXIDE. (a) The executive commissioner |
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[board] by rule shall establish: |
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(1) standards for a carbon monoxide chamber used to |
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euthanize an animal to which Section 821.052(b) applies [in the
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custody of an animal shelter]; and |
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(2) requirements and procedures for administering |
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commercially compressed carbon monoxide to euthanize an animal to |
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which Section 821.052(b) applies [in the custody of an animal
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shelter]. |
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(b) A person administering commercially compressed carbon |
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monoxide to euthanize an animal to which Section 821.052(b) applies |
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[in the custody of an animal shelter]: |
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(1) may use only a carbon monoxide chamber that meets |
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the standards established by department [board] rule; and |
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(2) may administer the commercially compressed carbon |
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monoxide only in accordance with the requirements and procedures |
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established by department [board] rule. |
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SECTION 4. Not later than December 1, 2013, the executive |
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commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall |
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adopt rules necessary to conform to Subsection (a), Section |
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821.052, and Section 821.054, Health and Safety Code, as amended by |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 5. A person subject to Subsection (a), Section |
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821.052, Health and Safety Code, as amended by this Act, is not |
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required to comply with that subsection or any rules adopted under |
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that subsection until January 1, 2014. |
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SECTION 6. 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. |