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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study of the effectiveness of rules and policies |
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implemented by the Parks and Wildlife Department to manage and |
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contain chronic wasting disease and of cervid resistance to chronic |
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wasting disease. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
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(1) "Chronic wasting disease" means a transmissible |
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spongiform encephalopathy infecting cervids. |
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(2) "Department" means the Parks and Wildlife |
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Department. |
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SECTION 2. STUDY RELATING TO CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE. (a) |
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Using existing resources, the Texas A&M College of Veterinary |
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Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, the Texas Tech University School of |
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Veterinary Medicine, and The University of Texas Southwestern |
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Medical Center Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, in conjunction |
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with the department, shall conduct a study assessing: |
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(1) the effectiveness of rules and policies |
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implemented by the department to manage and contain chronic wasting |
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disease; and |
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(2) cervid resistance to chronic wasting disease. |
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(b) The study required by Subsection (a) of this section |
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shall, to the extent practicable, include: |
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(1) a comparative analysis of the applicable rules and |
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policies implemented by the department and agencies of other states |
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responsible for managing and containing chronic wasting disease; |
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(2) an assessment of the benefits and deficiencies of |
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the applicable rules and policies; |
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(3) a comparative analysis of cervid genotypes to |
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determine resistance to chronic wasting disease; and |
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(4) scientific and statistical data relevant to |
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Subdivisions (1)-(3) of this subsection. |
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SECTION 3. PUBLIC INPUT REQUIRED. In conducting the study |
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required under Section 2(a) of this Act, the department shall: |
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(1) hold a hearing in a publicly accessible location |
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to provide a public forum for the submission of written and oral |
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comments from members of the public regarding the applicable rules |
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and policies; |
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(2) for not less than 60 days, provide an online portal |
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on the department's Internet website through which members of the |
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public may submit comments regarding the applicable rules and |
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policies; and |
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(3) respond to each public comment submitted: |
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(A) during the hearing required by Subdivision |
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(1) of this section; or |
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(B) through the online portal required by |
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Subdivision (2) of this section. |
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SECTION 4. REPORT. (a) Not later than December 1, 2026, |
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the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, |
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the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine, and The |
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University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Peter O'Donnell Jr. |
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Brain Institute shall provide a report of the study's findings to: |
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(1) the department; |
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(2) the governor; |
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(3) the lieutenant governor; |
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(4) the speaker of the house of representatives; and |
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(5) each member of the standing committees of the |
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senate and house of representatives having primary jurisdiction |
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over wildlife matters. |
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(b) The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & |
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Biomedical Sciences, the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary |
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Medicine, and The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center |
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Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute shall make the report required |
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by Subsection (a) of this section available to any member of the |
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legislature or any member of the public on request and at no cost to |
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the requestor. |
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SECTION 5. EXPIRATION. This Act expires May 31, 2027. |
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SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2025. |
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* * * * * |