BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3057

By: Gervin-Hawkins

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Although licensed dog and cat breeders are currently regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, licensed breeders are not required to provide a bill of sale for the sale or exchange of an animal. There have been concerns relating to the clarity of rules around these transactions and the ability of the state to ensure appropriate tax collection. H.B. 3057 seeks to address this issue by requiring a bill of sale to be provided with each sale or exchange of a dog or cat from a licensed breeder.

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

H.B. 3057 amends the Occupations Code to require a licensed dog or cat breeder to provide to a purchaser a bill of sale for each animal sold or exchanged in return for consideration. The bill requires the bill of sale to include the names of the licensed breeder and purchaser, a description of the animal, the date of sale or exchange, and the amount paid to the licensed breeder. The bill requires the licensed breeder to maintain a copy of each bill of sale and, not later than the 20th day after the end of a calendar quarter, to submit to the comptroller of public accounts each bill of sale from the preceding quarter.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.