Bill Text: TX HB3748 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced

Texas House Bill 3748 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to the costs associated with proceedings regarding cruelly treated animals; authorizing fees and costs.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-05-06 - Referred to Criminal Justice [HB3748 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-HB3748-Introduced.html

	83R5520 KKR-F

	By: Farrar	H.B. No. 3748



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the costs associated with proceedings regarding cruelly
	treated animals; authorizing fees and costs.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Section 821.023(e), Health and Safety Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(e) After a court finds that an animal's owner has cruelly
	treated the animal, the court may order the owner to pay the
	county's or municipality's reasonable attorney's fees, and shall
	order the owner to pay all court costs, including:
	(1) the administrative costs of:
	(A) investigation;
	(B) expert witnesses; and
	(C) conducting any public sale ordered by the
	court; and
	(2) the costs incurred by a municipal or county animal
	shelter or a nonprofit animal welfare organization in:
	(A) housing and caring for the animal during its
	impoundment; and
	(B) humanely destroying the animal if
	destruction is ordered by the court.
	SECTION 2. Section 821.025, Health and Safety Code, is
	amended by adding Subsection (i) to read as follows:
	(i) After a county court or county court at law finds that an
	animal's owner has cruelly treated the animal, the court may order
	the owner to pay the county's or municipality's reasonable
	attorney's fees and court costs, including the costs of
	investigation and expert witnesses.
	SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only
	to a proceeding commenced under Section 821.023 or 821.025, Health
	and Safety Code, on or after the effective date of this Act. A
	proceeding commenced before the effective date of this Act is
	covered by the law in effect at the time the proceeding is
	commenced, and the former law is continued in effect for that
	purpose.
	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.