BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2347

By: Noble

County Affairs

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Reports indicate that many pet owners have invested in animal microchip identification technology to assist in locating their pet in the unfortunate event the animal is lost or stolen. While many shelters and animal rescue organizations scan animals upon intake, it has been noted that some fail to perform such a scan. C.S.H.B. 2347 seeks to address this issue by requiring shelters and certain other animal rescue organizations to scan all animals on intake to determine whether a microchip is implanted in the animal.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2347 amends the Health and Safety Code to require an animal shelter or releasing agency, including an animal rescue organization, to scan an animal as soon as practicable after the animal is placed in the custody of the shelter, agency, or organization to determine whether a microchip is implanted in the animal. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 2347 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute specifies that a releasing agency includes an animal rescue organization.