| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the authority of certain counties to raise revenue for |
|
|
low cost sterilizations for dogs and cats by imposing a refundable |
|
|
fee for dogs and cats who are not sterilized and are adopted without |
|
|
being sterilized prior to adoption. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 828, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
|
|
by adding Section 828.015 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 828.015. FEE FOR DOGS AND CATS WHO ARE ADOPTED IN |
|
|
CERTAIN COUNTIES. |
|
|
(a) This section applies only to a county with a population |
|
|
of more than 75,000: |
|
|
(1) A county in which an animal shelter or releasing |
|
|
agency is located may assess a refundable fee of not less than $25 |
|
|
when a dog or cat is adopted by a new owner and the dog or cat is not |
|
|
already sterilized at the time of adoption. |
|
|
(b) The county where a dog or cat is adopted by an animal |
|
|
shelter or a releasing agency may: |
|
|
(1) transfer any revenue from any fees authorized by |
|
|
Subsection (b) and not refunded to the adopter to the general |
|
|
fund of the county; and |
|
|
(2) use the revenue to subsidize sterilizations for |
|
|
dogs and cats by: |
|
|
(a) contracting with a 501(c)(3) organization that provides |
|
|
spay/neuter services; or |
|
|
(b) allocating the funds to an animal shelter or releasing |
|
|
agency to hire veterinary staff to provide spay/neuter services; or |
|
|
(c) contracting with a 501(c)(3) organization that serves |
|
|
low income residents in the county to distribute spay/neuter |
|
|
vouchers to be used at private veterinary clinics in the county. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |