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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the trap, sterilize, and release program for stray cats |
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in certain counties. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 828, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 828.015 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 828.015. TRAP, STERILIZE, AND RELEASE PROGRAM FOR |
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CERTAIN COUNTIES. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Department" means the Department of State Health |
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Services. |
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(2) "Program" means the trap, sterilize, and release |
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program established under this section. |
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(b) This section applies only to a county with a population |
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of 550,000 or more that is adjacent to a county with a population of |
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3.3 million or more. |
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(c) The department shall establish the trap, sterilize, and |
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release program to protect the public safety by controlling the |
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stray cat population in a county in which the program is |
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established. |
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(d) The department shall contract with appropriate |
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releasing agencies to operate the program. In the contract, the |
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department must maintain sufficient control to ensure the public |
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purpose of improved public safety is accomplished and the state |
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receives the return benefit. |
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(e) In operating the program, a releasing agency shall: |
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(1) humanely trap stray cats located in a county for |
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which the program is established; |
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(2) transport the trapped stray cat to a veterinarian |
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or animal clinic for: |
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(A) sterilization and vaccination of the cat; and |
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(B) removal of a quarter-inch from the tip of the |
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cat's left ear while the cat is anesthetized as a sign of the |
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sterilization and vaccination; and |
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(3) return the sterilized and vaccinated cat to the |
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location where the cat was trapped or appropriately relocate the |
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cat provided that the location is not: |
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(A) public land for wildlife or outdoor |
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recreation activities, including lands owned or managed by: |
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(i) the Parks and Wildlife Department; |
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(ii) the Department of Agriculture; |
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(iii) the National Park Service; or |
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(iv) the United States Fish and Wildlife |
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Service of the United States Department of the Interior; or |
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(B) a land recognized as located within coastal |
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migratory bird pathways. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2020, the Department of |
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State Health Services shall establish the trap, sterilize, and |
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release program required by Section 828.015, Health and Safety |
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Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |