| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to a study of the effectiveness of rules implemented by the |
|
|
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department governing the management of |
|
|
chronic wasting disease and of cervid resistance to chronic wasting |
|
|
disease. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
|
|
(1) "Chronic wasting disease" means a transmissible |
|
|
spongiform encephalopathy infecting cervids. |
|
|
(2) "Department" means the Texas Parks and Wildlife |
|
|
Department. |
|
|
SECTION 2. STUDY OF RULES AND POLICIES RELATING TO CHRONIC |
|
|
WASTING DISEASE REQUIRED. (a) Using existing resources, the |
|
|
department shall conduct a study assessing the effectiveness of all |
|
|
agency rules and policies pertaining to the containment and |
|
|
management of chronic wasting disease. |
|
|
(b) The study required by Subsection (a) shall, to the |
|
|
extent practicable: |
|
|
(1) include a comparative analysis of the applicable |
|
|
rules and policies implemented by the department and agencies of |
|
|
other state governments responsible for containing and managing |
|
|
chronic wasting disease; |
|
|
(2) assess the overall benefits and deficiencies of |
|
|
the applicable rules and policies; |
|
|
(3) include a comparative analysis of cervid genotypes |
|
|
to determine resistance to chronic wasting disease; and |
|
|
(4) incorporate scientific and statistical data. |
|
|
SECTION 3. PUBLIC INPUT REQUIRED. In conducting the study |
|
|
required under Section 2(a), the department shall: |
|
|
(1) hold a hearing in a publicly accessible location |
|
|
to provide a public forum for the submission of written and oral |
|
|
testimony from members of the public regarding the applicable rules |
|
|
and policies; and |
|
|
(2) provide an online forum on the department's |
|
|
Internet website through which members of the public may submit |
|
|
commentary regarding the applicable rules and policies for not less |
|
|
than 60 days; and |
|
|
(3) respond to each public comment submitted during |
|
|
the hearing or through the Internet portal required by Subdivisions |
|
|
(1) and (2) respectively. |
|
|
SECTION 4. SUBMISSION DEADLINE. (a) Not later than |
|
|
December 1, 2026, the department shall complete the study required |
|
|
by Section 2(a) and provide a report regarding the study's findings |
|
|
to: |
|
|
(1) the governor; |
|
|
(2) the lieutenant governor; |
|
|
(3) the speaker of the house of representatives; |
|
|
(4) each member of the committee of the senate having |
|
|
primary jurisdiction over wildlife matters; and |
|
|
(5) each member of the committee of the house of |
|
|
representatives having primary jurisdiction over wildlife matters. |
|
|
(b) The department shall make the report required by |
|
|
Subsection (a) available to any member of the Legislature or any |
|
|
member of the public upon request and at no cost to the requestor. |
|
|
SECTION 5. EXPIRATION. This Act expires May 31, 2027. |
|
|
SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
|
|
1, 2025. |