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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an animal share exemption for certain meat and meat food |
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products; providing a civil penalty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 433, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 433.0065 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 433.0065. ANIMAL SHARE EXEMPTION; CIVIL PENALTY. (a) |
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In this section, "animal share" means an ownership interest in |
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livestock created by a contract between a consumer and a farmer or |
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rancher who owns the livestock. |
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(b) An animal share executed by a consumer and a farmer or |
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rancher under this section must include: |
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(1) a bill of sale the farmer or rancher provides to |
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the consumer conveying to the consumer an ownership interest in the |
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livestock; |
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(2) a provision authorizing the farmer or rancher to |
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board the livestock and arrange preparation of the livestock as |
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meat and meat food products for the consumer; and |
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(3) a provision entitling the consumer to a share of |
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meat and meat food products derived from the livestock. |
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(c) The provisions of this chapter requiring inspection of |
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livestock before slaughter and inspection of the preparation of |
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meat and meat food products do not apply to the slaughter of |
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livestock and preparation of meat and meat food products if: |
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(1) ownership of the livestock under an animal share |
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is established before the livestock is slaughtered and the meat and |
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meat food products are prepared; |
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(2) the meat and meat food products are: |
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(A) prepared from livestock subject to an animal |
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share and delivered to the establishment preparing the products by |
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the farmer or rancher boarding the livestock; and |
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(B) following preparation, delivered directly to |
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the consumer who owns the animal share; |
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(3) on delivery of the meat or meat food products to |
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the consumer, the establishment provides to the consumer notice |
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that the department has not inspected the meat or meat food products |
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in: |
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(A) a separate written statement that |
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prominently displays the warning; or |
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(B) a warning statement prominently displayed on |
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a label affixed to the meat or meat food product packaging; and |
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(4) the farmer or rancher provides to the consumer |
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information describing the standards the farmer or rancher followed |
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in maintaining livestock health and preparing the meat and meat |
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food products derived from the livestock. |
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(d) A consumer may not sell, donate, or commercially |
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redistribute meat or meat food products delivered to the consumer |
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in accordance with this section. A person who violates this |
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subsection is liable to this state for a civil penalty in the amount |
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of $10,000 for each violation. The attorney general may bring an |
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action to recover a civil penalty authorized under this subsection |
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and may recover reasonable expenses incurred in obtaining the civil |
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penalty, including court costs, attorney's fees, investigative |
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costs, witness fees, and deposition expenses. |
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(e) A farmer or rancher may not publish a statement that |
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implies department approval or endorsement regarding meat or meat |
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food products delivered pursuant to an animal share. |
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SECTION 2. Section 433.024(b), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The department shall inspect each slaughtering |
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establishment whose primary business is the selling of livestock to |
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be slaughtered by the purchaser on premises owned or operated by the |
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seller. This subsection does not nullify the provisions in Section |
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433.006 relating to exemptions or Section 433.0065 relating to an |
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animal share exemption. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |