BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 4069
	By: Meyer (Hancock)
	Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs
	5/17/2023
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Complaints regarding price transparency for emergency veterinary care have been increasing in Texas. Veterinary clinics should be transparent with their pricing of proposed emergency treatments. H.B. 4069 seeks to provide more transparency by requiring the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to adopt rules to require the disclosure of proposed emergency treatments and prices. 

H.B. 4069 amends current law relating to the required disclosure of prices by a veterinarian before providing emergency treatment to an ill or injured animal.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners in SECTION 1 (Section 801.3581, Occupations Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter H, Chapter 801, Occupations Code, by adding Section 801.3581, as follows:

Sec. 801.3581.  PRICE TRANSPARENCY FOR EMERGENCY CARE.� (a) Requires the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (SBVME) to adopt rules to require a veterinarian to disclose to the owner or other caretaker of an animal the following information before providing emergency treatment to an ill or injured animal:

(1)  a description of the proposed treatment; and

(2)  the estimated price of the proposed treatment.

(b)  Requires that rules adopted under this section ensure the veterinarian has a reasonable opportunity to:

(1)  assess the animal's condition and develop proposed options for treatment before providing the information described by Subsection (a); and

(2)  propose additional treatment options and price estimates based on changes in the animal's medical condition.

SECTION 2. Requires SBVME, not later than December 1, 2023, to adopt rules to implement Section 801.3581, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2023.