87S20045 KKR-D
 
  By: Jetton H.B. No. 17
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the unlawful restraint of a dog; creating a criminal
  offense.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 821, Health and Safety Code, is amended
  by adding Subchapter E to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER E. UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT OF DOG
         Sec. 821.101.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Owner" means a person who owns or has custody or
  control of a dog.
               (2)  "Restraint" means a chain, rope, tether, leash,
  cable, or other device that attaches a dog to a stationary object or
  trolley system.
         Sec. 821.102.  UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT OF DOG; OFFENSE. (a) An
  owner may not leave a dog outside and unattended by use of a
  restraint.
         (b)  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly
  violates this section. The restraint of each dog that is in
  violation of this section is a separate offense.
         (c)  An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor,
  except that the offense is a Class B misdemeanor if the person has
  previously been convicted under this section.
         (d)  If conduct constituting an offense under this section
  also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor may be
  prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both.
         Sec. 821.103.  EXCEPTIONS. (a) Section 821.102 does not
  apply to:
               (1)  the use of a restraint on a dog in a public camping
  or recreational area in compliance with the requirements of the
  public camping or recreational area as defined by a federal, state,
  or local authority or jurisdiction;
               (2)  the use of a restraint on a dog while the owner and
  dog engage in, or actively train for, an activity conducted under a
  valid license issued by this state provided:
                     (A)  the activity is associated with the use or
  presence of a dog; and
                     (B)  the restraint is used only for the time
  necessary for the owner to complete the activity;
               (3)  the use of a restraint on a dog while the owner and
  dog engage in conduct directly related to the business of
  shepherding or herding cattle or livestock provided the restraint
  is used only for the time necessary for the owner to complete the
  shepherding or herding;
               (4)  a dog left unattended in an open-air truck bed only
  for the time necessary for the owner to complete a temporary task
  that requires the dog to be left unattended in the truck bed; or
               (5)  a dog restrained while the owner and dog are
  engaged in, or actively training for, hunting or field trialing.
         (b)  This subchapter does not prohibit a person from walking
  a dog with a handheld leash.
         Sec. 821.104.  EFFECT OF SUBCHAPTER ON OTHER LAW. This
  subchapter does not preempt a local regulation relating to the
  restraint of a dog or affect the authority of a political
  subdivision to adopt or enforce an ordinance or requirement
  relating to the restraint of a dog if the regulation, ordinance, or
  requirement relates to an issue not specifically addressed by this
  subchapter.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter D, Chapter 821, Health and Safety
  Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
  An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
  and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For
  purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the
  effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred
  before that date.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2022.