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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to conditions of community supervision for defendants |
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convicted of certain criminal offenses involving animals; |
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authorizing fees. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 42A.511, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Art. 42A.511. COMMUNITY SUPERVISION FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES |
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INVOLVING ANIMALS. (a) If a judge grants community supervision to |
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a defendant convicted of an offense under Section 42.09, 42.091, |
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42.092, or 42.10, Penal Code, the judge may require the defendant |
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to: |
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(1) complete an online responsible pet owner course |
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approved and certified by the Texas Department of Licensing and |
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Regulation; or |
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(2) attend a responsible pet owner course sponsored by |
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a municipal animal shelter, as defined by Section 823.001, Health |
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and Safety Code, that: |
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(A) [(1)] receives federal, state, county, or |
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municipal funds; and |
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(B) [(2)] serves the county in which the court is |
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located. |
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(b) For purposes of the online responsible pet owner course |
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described by Subsection (a)(1), the Texas Department of Licensing |
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and Regulation or the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation, |
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as appropriate: |
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(1) is responsible for the approval, certification, |
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and administration of the course and course providers; |
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(2) may charge fees for: |
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(A) initial and renewal course certifications; |
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(B) initial and renewal course provider |
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certifications; |
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(C) course participant completion certificates; |
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and |
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(D) other fees necessary for the administration |
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of the course and course providers; |
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(3) shall adopt rules regarding the administration of |
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the course and course providers, including rules regarding: |
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(A) the criteria for course approval and |
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certification; |
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(B) the criteria for course provider approval and |
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certification; |
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(C) curriculum development; |
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(D) course length and content; |
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(E) criteria for a participant to complete the |
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course; and |
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(F) a course completion certificate that is |
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acceptable to a court; |
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(4) is authorized to monitor and audit the provision |
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of the course by the course providers; and |
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(5) may take enforcement actions as appropriate to |
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enforce this subsection. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than March 1, 2018, the Texas |
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Department of Licensing and Regulation or the Texas Commission of |
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Licensing and Regulation, as appropriate, shall adopt rules to |
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implement Article 42A.511, Code of Criminal Procedure, as amended |
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by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |