| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the licensing and regulation of dog and cat breeders; |
|
|
expanding the applicability of an occupational license. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 802.002(8), Occupations Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(8) "Dog or cat breeder" means a person who possesses |
|
|
five [11] or more adult intact female animals and is engaged in the |
|
|
business of breeding those animals for direct or indirect sale or |
|
|
for exchange in return for consideration [and who sells or |
|
|
exchanges, or offers to sell or exchange, not fewer than 20 animals |
|
|
in a calendar year]. |
|
|
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
|
|
of this Act, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation shall |
|
|
prescribe the forms and procedures necessary to implement the |
|
|
changes in law made by this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 3. Notwithstanding Section 802.002(8), Occupations |
|
|
Code, as amended by this Act, a dog or cat breeder who possesses |
|
|
five or more but fewer than 11 adult intact female animals and is |
|
|
engaged in the business of breeding those animals for direct or |
|
|
indirect sale or for exchange in return for consideration is not |
|
|
required to hold a license under Chapter 802, Occupations Code, to |
|
|
act as a dog or cat breeder before January 1, 2024. |
|
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |