85R1209 LHC-D
 
  By: Menéndez S.B. No. 1792
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to conditions of community supervision for defendants
  convicted of certain criminal offenses involving animals.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Article 42A.511, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Art. 42A.511.  COMMUNITY SUPERVISION FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES
  INVOLVING ANIMALS. If a judge grants community supervision to a
  defendant convicted of an offense under Section 42.09, 42.091,
  42.092, or 42.10, Penal Code, the judge may require the defendant
  to:
               (1)  complete an online responsible pet owner course
  approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation; or
               (2)  attend a responsible pet owner course sponsored by
  a municipal animal shelter, as defined by Section 823.001, Health
  and Safety Code, that:
                     (A) [(1)]  receives federal, state, county, or
  municipal funds; and
                     (B) [(2)]  serves the county in which the court is
  located.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than the 120th day after the effective
  date of this Act, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
  shall approve at least one online responsible pet owner course for
  the purposes of Article 42A.511, Code of Criminal Procedure, as
  amended by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2017.