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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the regulation of livestock export-import processing |
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facilities; creating a criminal offense. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 161, Agriculture Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 161.0445 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 161.0445. REGULATION OF EXPORT-IMPORT PROCESSING |
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FACILITIES. (a) In this section, "export-import facility" means a |
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public or private livestock export-import processing facility that |
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is a land border port in this state with the capacity to receive and |
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hold livestock and livestock products for transportation in |
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international trade. The term includes a department facility |
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authorized by Subchapter B, Chapter 146. |
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(b) The owner or person in charge of an export-import |
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facility shall notify the commission not later than 24 hours after |
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an animal received or held at the facility is refused export out of |
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this state or entry into another country. |
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(c) The commission may require that an animal held at an |
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export-import facility be tested or treated for a disease or pest if |
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an authorized commission employee considers the test or treatment |
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necessary. The commission may require the testing or treatment be |
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performed before the animal is removed from the export-import |
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facility. This state is not liable for the amount of any fee |
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charged for the testing or treatment. |
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(d) The commission may, for disease or pest control |
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purposes, adopt rules necessary to implement, administer, and |
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enforce this section. The rules may include reporting and |
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recordkeeping requirements and provisions governing the movement, |
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inspection, testing, or treatment of animals. |
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(e) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly |
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moves an animal in violation of a rule adopted under this section. |
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(f) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor, |
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except that the offense is a Class B misdemeanor if it is shown on |
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the trial of the offense that the defendant has been previously |
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convicted under this section. |
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SECTION 2. Section 161.0445(b), Agriculture Code, as added |
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by this Act, applies to an owner or person in charge of an |
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export-import facility beginning on the 30th day after the |
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effective date of this Act or on a later date provided by an order |
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issued by the executive director of the Texas Animal Health |
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Commission. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |