BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4069

By: Meyer

Agriculture & Livestock

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Veterinary emergency clinics are not required to be transparent with their pricing of proposed treatments in order to administer emergency care, and the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TBVME) does not currently have the authority to handle complaints regarding these clinics' pricing. Complaints regarding these clinics have been increasing in Texas in light of the increasing corporate ownership of veterinary clinics. H.B. 4069 seeks to provide the TBVME a wider purview regarding emergency care pricing by providing for emergency care price transparency.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 4069 amends the Occupations Code to require the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, not later than December 1, 2023, 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:

· a description of the proposed treatment; and

· the estimated price of the proposed treatment.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.