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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a report of animal cruelty to certain law enforcement |
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agencies and immunity from liability for the report. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter B, Chapter 821, Health |
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and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER B. [DISPOSITION OF] CRUELLY TREATED ANIMALS |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 821, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 821.027 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 821.027. REPORT OF ANIMAL CRUELTY; IMMUNITIES. (a) A |
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veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state |
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or an employee of the Health and Human Services Commission or the |
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Department of Family and Protective Services who is acting within |
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the scope of practice or employment and has reasonable cause to |
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believe that a person has committed an offense under Section |
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42.092, Penal Code, with respect to a domesticated nonlivestock |
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animal shall report, as soon as possible, the suspected offense to: |
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(1) the county sheriff's department of the county in |
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which the suspected offense was committed; or |
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(2) the municipal police department of the |
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municipality in which the suspected offense was committed. |
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(b) For purposes of Subsections (a) and (b), if the |
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veterinarian or employee is unable to determine the county or |
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municipality in which the suspected offense was committed, the |
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veterinarian or employee shall report the suspected offense to the |
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appropriate authorities in the county or municipality in which the |
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animal was located at the time the veterinarian or employee |
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discovered the suspected offense. |
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(c) Unless the person acted in bad faith or maliciously, a |
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person is immune from civil or criminal liability and is not subject |
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to administrative disciplinary action for: |
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(1) submitting a report under this section; |
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(2) assisting in an investigation of a report under |
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this section; |
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(3) providing records or information related to a |
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suspected offense under Section 42.092, Penal Code; or |
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(4) providing testimony or otherwise participating in |
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a court proceeding arising from the report, records, or |
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information. |
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SECTION 3. Section 821.027, Health and Safety Code, as |
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added by this Act, applies only to a suspected offense that was |
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committed, is reasonably believed to have been committed, or was |
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discovered on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |