| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the protection of bats. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Sections 63.101(a) and (c), Parks and Wildlife |
|
|
Code, are amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (c), a [no] |
|
|
person may not: |
|
|
(1) entomb or hunt a live bat; or |
|
|
(2) sell, offer for sale, purchase, offer to purchase, |
|
|
or possess after purchase a bat or any part of a bat, dead or alive. |
|
|
(c) This section does not apply to: |
|
|
(1) an animal control officer, a peace officer, a |
|
|
licensed pest control professional, or a health official who |
|
|
captures a bat that the officer, professional, or official |
|
|
considers injured or diseased; or |
|
|
(2) a person who transports a bat for the purpose of: |
|
|
(A) laboratory testing if the bat has exposed or |
|
|
potentially exposed humans or domestic animals to rabies; or |
|
|
(B) rehabilitation at a permitted rehabilitation |
|
|
facility if the bat has had no known prior exposure with humans |
|
|
[(3) a person who is licensed to provide pest control |
|
|
services]. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |