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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a statewide dangerous dog |
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registry. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 411, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 411.952 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 411.952. STATEWIDE DANGEROUS DOG REGISTRY. (a) In |
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this section, "animal control authority" has the meaning assigned |
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by Section 822.041, Health and Safety Code. |
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(b) This section applies only to an animal control authority |
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located in a municipality with a population of more than 100,000. |
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(c) The department, in collaboration with animal control |
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authorities, shall establish and maintain on the department's |
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Internet website a publicly accessible and searchable statewide |
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registry for dogs an animal control authority determines are |
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dangerous under Section 822.0421, Health and Safety Code. |
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(d) The statewide registry must include for each dangerous |
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dog listed in the registry the following information provided by an |
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animal control authority: |
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(1) proof of the dangerous dog's rabies vaccination; |
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(2) proof the dangerous dog is kept in a secure |
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enclosure; |
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(3) proof the dangerous dog's owner obtained the |
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liability insurance or financial responsibility required by |
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Section 822.042, Health and Safety Code; |
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(4) information on whether the dangerous dog has a |
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permanent identification marker or tag, including a tattoo or |
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microchip; |
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(5) information on whether the dangerous dog is spayed |
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or neutered; |
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(6) the name of the dangerous dog; |
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(7) a photograph of the dangerous dog; |
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(8) the county in which the dangerous dog is located; |
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and |
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(9) the name of the current owner of the dangerous dog |
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and the address at which the dangerous dog is housed. |
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(e) On written approval of the municipality in which an |
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animal control authority operates, the animal control authority may |
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omit some or all of the information required under Subsection (d). |
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(f) The commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement |
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this section. |
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SECTION 2. Section 822.0421, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: |
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(e) On an animal control authority's determination that a |
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dog is a dangerous dog or on the conclusion of an appeal upholding |
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that determination, an animal control authority to which Section |
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411.952, Government Code, applies shall provide to the Department |
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of Public Safety the information required by that section for |
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inclusion in the department's statewide dangerous dog registry, |
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unless the municipality in which the animal control authority |
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operates provides written approval for the animal control authority |
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to omit some or all of the information. |
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SECTION 3. Section 822.043, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows: |
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(c-1) On receiving notice an owner sold or moved a dangerous |
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dog to another address, an animal control authority to which |
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Section 411.952, Government Code, applies shall provide the address |
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information to the Department of Public Safety for inclusion in the |
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department's statewide dangerous dog registry under that section |
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unless the municipality in which the animal control authority |
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operates provides written approval for the animal control authority |
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to omit some or all of the required information. |
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SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Department of Public Safety shall establish the |
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statewide dangerous dog registry as required by Section 411.952, |
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Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |