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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the identification of breeder deer by use of microchip |
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implants. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 43.3561, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 43.3561. IDENTIFICATION OF BREEDER DEER. (a) Not |
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later than March 31 of the year following the year in which a [the] |
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breeder deer is born, the [a] breeder deer held in a permitted deer |
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breeding facility must be identified by: |
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(1) placing on each breeder deer possessed by the deer |
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breeder a single, reasonably visible, durable identification tag |
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bearing an alphanumeric number of not more than four characters |
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assigned by the department to the breeding facility in which the |
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breeder deer was born and unique to that breeder deer; or |
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(2) implanting in the breeder deer a microchip that is |
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programmed to contain the alphanumeric number described by |
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Subdivision (1). |
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(b) A deer breeder is not required to remove the durable |
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identification tag or microchip for any purpose but may remove the |
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tag or microchip and replace the tag or microchip immediately to |
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meet the requirements of this section. |
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(c) Except as provided by Subsection (e), a [(b) A] person |
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may not remove or knowingly permit the removal of a breeder deer |
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held in a facility by a permittee under this subchapter unless the |
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breeder deer has been permanently and legibly tattooed in one ear |
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with the unique identification number assigned to the breeder in |
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lawful possession of the breeder deer and specific to the breeding |
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facility in which the breeder deer was born or initially introduced |
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if from an out-of-state source. |
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(d) Except as provided by Subsection (e), a [(c) A] person |
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may not knowingly accept or permit the acceptance of a breeder deer |
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into a facility regulated under this subchapter unless the breeder |
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deer has been permanently and legibly tattooed in one ear with the |
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unique identification number assigned to the breeder in lawful |
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possession of the breeder deer and specific to the facility in which |
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the breeder deer was born or initially introduced if from an |
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out-of-state source. |
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(e) Instead of using a tattoo to identify a breeder deer |
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under Subsection (c) or (d), a deer breeder may identify a deer by |
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using a department-approved microchip implanted under the deer's |
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skin. |
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(f) The department annually may inspect a deer breeding |
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facility that uses microchip implants to identify breeder deer to |
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ensure compliance with this section. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 43.357(a-1) and (b), Parks and Wildlife |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a-1) A deer breeder, a deer breeder's authorized agent, or |
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an assistant who is not a permittee under this subchapter but is |
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acting under the direction of a deer breeder or a deer breeder's |
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authorized agent may capture a breeder deer held in a permitted |
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facility for: |
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(1) removal from an enclosure; |
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(2) veterinary treatment; |
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(3) tagging or implanting a microchip; |
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(4) euthanasia for the purpose of: |
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(A) humane dispatch of the breeder deer; or |
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(B) the conduct of a test for a reportable |
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disease as required by law; or |
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(5) any other purpose required or allowed by law. |
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(b) The commission may make regulations governing: |
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(1) the possession of breeder deer held under the |
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authority of this subchapter; |
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(2) the recapture of lawfully possessed breeder deer |
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that have escaped from the facility of a deer breeder; |
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(3) permit applications and fees; |
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(4) reporting requirements; |
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(5) procedures and requirements for the purchase, |
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transfer, sale, or shipment of breeder deer; |
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(6) the endorsement of a deer breeder facility by a |
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certified wildlife biologist; |
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(7) the number of breeder deer that a deer breeder may |
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possess; [and] |
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(8) the dates for which a deer breeder permit is valid; |
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and |
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(9) the use of microchip implants for identifying |
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breeder deer under this section. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |