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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the quarantine of rabid animals. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 826.042, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsections (f) and (g) to read as follows: |
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(f) At the time an owner submits for quarantine an animal |
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described by Subsection (b), the veterinarian or local rabies |
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control authority, as applicable, shall: |
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(1) provide written notification to the animal's owner |
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of the date the animal enters quarantine and the date the animal |
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will be released from quarantine; |
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(2) obtain and retain with the animal's records a |
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written statement signed by the animal's owner and a supervisor |
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employed by the veterinarian or local rabies control authority |
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acknowledging that the information required by Subdivision (1) has |
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been provided to the animal's owner; and |
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(3) provide the animal's owner a copy of the signed |
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written statement obtained under Subdivision (2). |
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(g) A veterinarian or local rabies control authority, as |
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applicable, shall fit each animal quarantined under this section |
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with a yellow collar that is distinct in color from the collars of |
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other animals under the care of the veterinarian or local rabies |
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control authority. |
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SECTION 2. Section 826.043, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (e) to |
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read as follows: |
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(d) Except as provided by Subsection (e), the [The] |
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veterinarian or local rabies control authority may sell the animal |
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and retain the proceeds or keep, grant, or destroy an animal if the |
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owner or custodian does not take possession of the animal before the |
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fourth day following the final day of the quarantine period. |
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(e) A veterinarian or local rabies control authority may not |
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destroy an animal following the final day of the quarantine period |
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unless the veterinarian or local rabies control authority has: |
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(1) notified the animal's owner of the animal's |
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scheduled destruction; and |
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(2) provided the animal's owner a reasonable |
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opportunity to take possession of the animal after providing the |
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notice required by Subdivision (1). |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |