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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the Institute for Chronic Wasting |
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Disease Research. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 86, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 86.83 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 86.83. INSTITUTE FOR CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE RESEARCH. |
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(a) In this section: |
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(1) "Breeder deer," "deer," and "deer breeder" have |
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the meanings assigned to those terms by Section 43.351, Parks and |
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Wildlife Code. |
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(2) "Chronic wasting disease" means a transmissible |
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spongiform encephalopathy infecting deer and related species and |
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their hybrids. |
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(3) "Institute" means the Institute for Chronic |
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Wasting Disease Research. |
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(b) The Institute for Chronic Wasting Disease Research is a |
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component of Texas A&M University. |
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(c) The institute is under the management and direction of |
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the board. |
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(d) The institute may employ personnel. |
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(e) The institute may accept a gift or grant from any public |
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or private source for the benefit of the institute. |
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(f) The institute shall, in partnership with deer breeders: |
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(1) study the progression of chronic wasting disease; |
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(2) analyze the genetic profiles of deer infected with |
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chronic wasting disease; |
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(3) develop: |
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(A) strategies to prevent chronic wasting |
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disease; |
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(B) efforts to mitigate transmission of chronic |
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wasting disease; and |
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(C) treatments for chronic wasting disease; and |
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(4) evaluate the implementation of strategies, |
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mitigation efforts, and treatments developed under Subdivision |
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(3), including for breeder deer. |
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(g) The institute may conduct an activity described by |
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Subsection (f) at a location: |
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(1) for which a deer breeder's permit was issued, at |
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the deer breeder's request; or |
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(2) operated by the institute. |
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(h) A deer breeder who makes available to the institute a |
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breeder deer for an activity described by Subsection (f) is |
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entitled to compensation from the institute for: |
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(1) a breeder deer on which the institute directly |
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conducts the activity, regardless of the location of the activity; |
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and |
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(2) any breeder deer at the deer breeder's permitted |
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location that the breeder is prohibited from selling, transferring, |
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or releasing because the institute conducts an activity described |
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by Subsection (f) at the location. |
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(i) Notwithstanding any other law, a deer breeder or the |
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institute may transfer a breeder deer from the location for which |
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the deer breeder's permit was issued to the institute to conduct an |
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activity described by Subsection (f). |
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SECTION 2. The Institute for Chronic Wasting Disease |
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Research is required to implement a provision of this Act only if |
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the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. |
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If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that |
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purpose, the institute may, but is not required to, implement a |
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provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |