Bill Text: TX HB3439 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Relating to veterinary services performed on certain animals in the care of a releasing agency.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-05-19 - Scheduled for public hearing on . . . [HB3439 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB3439-Engrossed.html
By: A. Johnson of Harris | H.B. No. 3439 |
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relating to veterinary services performed on certain animals in | ||
the care of a releasing agency. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 828.012, Health and Safety Code, is | ||
amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(b) A veterinarian employed by a releasing agency may not | ||
perform nonemergency veterinary services other than sterilization | ||
on an animal that the releasing agency knows or should know has an | ||
owner. However, this subsection does not prevent a veterinarian | ||
employed by a releasing agency from performing veterinary services | ||
on an animal whose owner: | ||
(1) is an individual or family whose income is: | ||
(A) not more than 50 percent of the median income | ||
for the area in which the individual or family lives as determined | ||
using a source or methodology accepted under federal law or rule; or | ||
(B) less than the federal poverty level for the | ||
relevant household size; and | ||
(2) submits to the releasing agency evidence to | ||
establish the owner qualifies as an individual or family described | ||
by Subdivision (1) [ |
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(b-1) If a veterinarian employed by a releasing agency | ||
performs veterinary services on an animal whose owner qualifies as | ||
an individual or family described by Subsection (b)(1), the agency | ||
shall: | ||
(1) maintain the evidence the owner submits to the | ||
agency under Subsection (b)(2); and | ||
(2) on request of the State Board of Veterinary | ||
Medical Examiners, make the evidence available to the board for | ||
inspection. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |