Bill Text: TX SB1930 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the adoption of cats and dogs previously used for research at public institutions of higher education.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-03-27 - Referred to Higher Education [SB1930 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-SB1930-Introduced.html
85R12291 KJE-D | ||
By: West | S.B. No. 1930 |
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relating to the adoption of cats and dogs previously used for | ||
research at public institutions of higher education. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 51.956 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 51.956. ADOPTION OF RETIRED RESEARCH ANIMALS. (a) In | ||
this section: | ||
(1) "Animal rescue organization" means an | ||
organization established primarily to rescue animals and offer the | ||
animals for adoption. | ||
(2) "Animal shelter" means a facility that is operated | ||
by an organization and established primarily to shelter and care | ||
for stray or abandoned animals and offer those animals for | ||
adoption. | ||
(3) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning | ||
assigned by Section 61.003. | ||
(4) "Retired research animal" means a cat or dog that | ||
an institution of higher education used in experiments conducted | ||
for education, research, science, or testing purposes and no longer | ||
needs for those purposes. | ||
(b) An institution of higher education shall assess the | ||
health of a retired research animal on its retirement to determine | ||
whether the animal has a substantial medical condition that | ||
prevents the animal from successfully integrating into an adoptive | ||
home. If the animal does not have such a condition, the institution | ||
shall offer the animal for adoption: | ||
(1) through an animal rescue organization or animal | ||
shelter; or | ||
(2) by an individual through an arrangement between | ||
the institution and individual. | ||
(c) An institution of higher education may enter into a | ||
written agreement with an animal rescue organization or animal | ||
shelter that: | ||
(1) provides for a veterinarian employed by the | ||
organization or shelter to perform the health assessment of the | ||
institution's retired research animals as required under | ||
Subsection (b); or | ||
(2) addresses the transfer of the institution's | ||
retired research animals to the organization or shelter. | ||
(d) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt | ||
rules necessary to implement this section. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |