88R16186 MPF-F
 
  By: Campos H.B. No. 4759
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to an attack by a dangerous dog; increasing a criminal
  penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 822.0421, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1),
  (a-2), and (e) to read as follows:
         (a)  If a person reports an incident described by Section
  822.041(2), the animal control authority shall [may] investigate
  the incident. The animal control authority shall determine whether
  the dog is a dangerous dog by observing and documenting the behavior
  of the dog or by examining [If , after receiving] the sworn
  statements of any witnesses. If[,] the animal control authority
  determines the dog is a dangerous dog, the animal control authority
  shall notify the owner in writing of the determination.
         (a-1)  A dog is presumed to be a dangerous dog for the
  purposes of this section if an incident described by Section
  822.041(2) results in:
               (1)  serious bodily injury, as defined by Section
  822.001, or death of an individual;
               (2)  the transport of an individual to a hospital;
               (3)  the filing of a police report on the incident; or
               (4)  the arrest of the owner.
         (a-2)  If the animal control authority determines that a dog
  is a dangerous dog under this section, the authority must
  immediately notify an appropriate law enforcement agency and the
  local county or district attorney with jurisdiction of the
  incident.
         (e)  The identifying information of a witness who gives a
  sworn statement under Subsection (a) is not subject to disclosure
  under Chapter 552, Government Code. In this subsection,
  "identifying information" has the meaning assigned by Section
  32.51, Penal Code.
         SECTION 2.  Section 822.044, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to
  read as follows:
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), an [An] offense
  under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
         (b-1)  An offense under this section is a felony of the third
  degree if it is shown on trial of the offense that the defendant has
  been previously convicted of an offense under this section.
         SECTION 3.  (a) Except as otherwise provided by this
  section, Section 822.0421, Health and Safety Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies only to a determination based on an incident that
  occurred on or after the effective date of this Act. An incident
  that occurred before the effective date of this Act is governed by
  the law in effect on the date the incident occurred, and the former
  law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         (b)  Section 822.0421(e), Health and Safety Code, as added by
  this Act, applies to information contained in a sworn statement
  released on or after the effective date of this Act, regardless of
  whether the sworn statement was made before, on, or after that date.
         SECTION 4.  Section 822.044, Health and Safety Code, as
  amended by this Act, applies only to an offense committed on or
  after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before
  the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on
  the date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued
  in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an
  offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any
  element of the offense occurred before that date.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.