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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the adoption of cats and dogs previously used for |
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research at public institutions of higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.956 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.956. ADOPTION OF RETIRED RESEARCH ANIMALS. (a) In |
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this section: |
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(1) "Animal rescue organization" means an |
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organization established primarily to rescue animals and offer the |
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animals for adoption. |
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(2) "Animal shelter" means a facility that is operated |
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by an organization and established primarily to shelter and care |
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for stray or abandoned animals and offer those animals for |
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adoption. |
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(3) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 61.003. |
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(4) "Retired research animal" means a cat or dog that |
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an institution of higher education used in experiments conducted |
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for education, research, science, or testing purposes and no longer |
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needs for those purposes. |
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(b) An institution of higher education shall assess the |
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health of a retired research animal on its retirement to determine |
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whether the animal has a substantial medical condition that |
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prevents the animal from successfully integrating into an adoptive |
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home. If the animal does not have such a condition, the institution |
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shall offer the animal for adoption: |
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(1) through an animal rescue organization or animal |
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shelter; or |
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(2) by an individual through an arrangement between |
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the institution and individual. |
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(c) An institution of higher education may enter into a |
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written agreement with an animal rescue organization or animal |
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shelter that: |
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(1) provides for a veterinarian employed by the |
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organization or shelter to perform the health assessment of the |
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institution's retired research animals as required under |
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Subsection (b); or |
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(2) addresses the transfer of the institution's |
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retired research animals to the organization or shelter. |
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(d) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt |
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rules necessary to implement this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |