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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to establishment and functions of the Animal Welfare |
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Commission. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. ANIMAL WELFARE COMMISSION. (a) The Animal |
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Welfare Commission is created to study and provide recommendations |
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to the legislature regarding animal welfare issues, including the: |
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(1) regulation of the ownership of exotic animals; |
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(2) transfer of animal ownership from an owner to an |
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animal shelter after the shelter's acquisition of the animal; |
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(3) inspection of animal shelters; |
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(4) regulation of veterinarians under the Occupations |
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Code in relation to animal shelters; |
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(5) management of the coyote population in urban |
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areas; |
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(6) welfare of circus animals in this state; |
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(7) definition of "animal shelter" in Title 10, Health |
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and Safety Code; |
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(8) definition of "dangerous dog" in Title 10, Health |
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and Safety Code; |
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(9) efficacy of trap, sterilize, and return programs; |
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and |
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(10) protocols for animal euthanasia. |
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(b) The Animal Welfare Commission consists of the following |
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members: |
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(1) three members appointed by the governor, one of |
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whom must represent the interests of animal shelters and another of |
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whom must represent the interests of law enforcement in this state; |
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(2) the lieutenant governor or a designee of the |
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lieutenant governor; |
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(3) the speaker of the house of representatives or a |
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designee of the speaker; |
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(4) the commissioner of state health services or a |
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designee of the commissioner; |
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(5) the executive director of the Texas State Board of |
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Veterinary Medical Examiners or a designee of the executive |
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director; |
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(6) the executive director of the Animal Health |
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Commission or a designee of the executive director; and |
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(7) the executive director of the Parks and Wildlife |
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Department or a designee of the executive director. |
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(c) When making initial appointments under Subsection (b) |
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of this section, the governor shall designate one of the governor's |
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appointees as the presiding officer of the Animal Welfare |
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Commission. |
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(d) Each appointing official shall appoint members to the |
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Animal Welfare Commission not later than December 31, 2015. |
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(e) If a vacancy arises on the Animal Welfare Commission, |
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the vacancy must be filled as soon as practicable in the same manner |
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as the original appointment as provided by Subsection (b) of this |
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section. |
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(f) The Animal Welfare Commission shall meet not later than |
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the 30th day after the date the final initial appointment is made |
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under Subsection (b) of this section and shall meet regularly as |
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necessary at the call of the presiding officer. |
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(g) An Animal Welfare Commission member is not entitled to |
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reimbursement of expenses or to compensation. |
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(h) On the Animal Welfare Commission's request, the |
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comptroller of public accounts or a state agency, department, or |
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office shall provide any assistance the commission requires to |
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perform the commission's duties. |
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SECTION 2. REPORT ON ANIMAL WELFARE. Not later than January |
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1, 2017, the Animal Welfare Commission shall provide to the |
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governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of |
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representatives a final report on animal welfare in this state. The |
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report must include: |
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(1) recommendations for efficient and effective |
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solutions to the commission's charge, in addition to solutions to |
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other animal welfare issues identified by the commission; |
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(2) proposed legislation necessary to implement the |
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recommendations described by Subdivision (1) of this section; |
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(3) administrative recommendations; and |
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(4) a complete explanation of each of the commission's |
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recommendations. |
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SECTION 3. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. The Animal Welfare |
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Commission is not subject to Chapter 2210, Government Code. |
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SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires and the Animal |
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Welfare Commission is abolished June 1, 2017. |
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SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2015. |