87R3251 KKR-F
 
  By: Rosenthal H.B. No. 337
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the intake and disposition records of animal shelters
  and releasing agencies.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Chapter 823, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 823.  ANIMAL SHELTERS AND RELEASING AGENCIES
         SECTION 2.  Section 823.001, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Subdivision (5) to read as follows:
               (5)  "Releasing agency" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 828.001.
         SECTION 3.  Section 823.002, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 823.002.  EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN COUNTIES, CLINICS, AND
  FACILITIES. Except as provided by Sections 823.003(e) and 823.010,
  this [This] chapter does not apply to:
               (1)  a county having a population of less than 75,000;
               (2)  a veterinary medicine clinic; or
               (3)  a livestock commission facility.
         SECTION 4.  The heading to Section 823.003, Health and
  Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 823.003.  STANDARDS FOR ANIMAL SHELTERS AND RELEASING
  AGENCIES; CRIMINAL PENALTY.
         SECTION 5.  Section 823.003(e), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (e)  The executive commissioner of the Health and Human
  Services Commission shall [may] require each person operating an
  animal shelter or releasing agency to keep the records required by
  Section 823.010.  The executive commissioner shall require the
  shelter or agency [of the date and disposition of animals in its
  custody,] to maintain the records on the business premises of the
  [animal] shelter or agency[,] and to make the records available for
  inspection at reasonable times.
         SECTION 6.  Chapter 823, Health and Safety Code, is amended
  by adding Section 823.010 to read as follows:
         Sec. 823.010.  INTAKE AND DISPOSITION RECORDS FOR ANIMAL
  SHELTERS AND RELEASING AGENCIES. (a)  Each animal shelter,
  including a shelter operated by a municipality, or releasing agency
  operated in this state shall prepare and maintain records on the
  intake and disposition of animals in the care of the shelter or
  agency, including:
               (1)  the total number of live animals taken in by the
  shelter or agency, categorized by species and age;
               (2)  the reason an animal was taken in by the shelter or
  agency, including whether the animal was:
                     (A)  surrendered by the animal's owner;
                     (B)  surrendered by the animal's owner and the
  owner requested that the animal be euthanized;
                     (C)  impounded as a stray animal or an animal at
  large;
                     (D)  confiscated;
                     (E)  transferred to the shelter or agency from a
  location in this state;
                     (F)  transferred to the shelter or agency from a
  location outside this state; or
                     (G)  born in the shelter or under the care of the
  agency;
               (3)  the number of animals at the shelter or agency on
  the last day of each month, categorized by species and age; and
               (4)  the disposition of each animal taken in by the
  shelter or agency, categorized by species and age, including
  whether the animal:
                     (A)  was adopted;
                     (B)  was reclaimed by the animal's owner;
                     (C)  died in the shelter or under the care of the
  agency;
                     (D)  was transferred from the shelter or agency;
                     (E)  was euthanized by the shelter or agency on a
  decision made by the shelter or agency;
                     (F)  was euthanized at the owner's request;
                     (G)  was returned to the field as part of a
  sterilization program; or
                     (H)  was lost or stolen while in the shelter's or
  agency's care.
         (b)  In the records required by Subsection (a), an animal
  shelter or releasing agency must use the following categories:
               (1)  for species, dog, cat, or other; and
               (2)  for age, up to five months or adult.
         (c)  An animal shelter or releasing agency monthly shall
  prepare the records required by Subsection (a).
         (d)  An animal shelter or releasing agency shall maintain
  records prepared under Subsection (a) until at least the third
  anniversary of the date the record was prepared.
         (e)  An animal shelter or releasing agency shall make the
  records required by this section available to the public by:
               (1)  posting the records on the shelter's,
  municipality's, or agency's Internet website; or
               (2)  for a shelter, municipality, or agency that does
  not have an Internet website, making the records available for
  inspection and copying in a form regularly maintained by the
  shelter, municipality, or agency.
         SECTION 7.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  an animal placed at or disposed of by an animal shelter or releasing
  agency or counted in the shelter's or agency's animal total on or
  after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.