Bill Text: TX HB66 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the regulation of kennels; creating a criminal offense.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-02-23 - Referred to Business & Industry [HB66 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB66-Introduced.html
| 88R3235 MCF-D | ||
| By: Talarico | H.B. No. 66 | |
|
|
||
|
|
||
| relating to the regulation of kennels; creating a criminal offense. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Title 10, Health and Safety Code, is amended by | ||
| adding Chapter 824 to read as follows: | ||
| CHAPTER 824. KENNELS | ||
| Sec. 824.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: | ||
| (1) "Fire protection sprinkler system" has the meaning | ||
| assigned by Section 766.051. | ||
| (2) "Kennel" means a facility that provides boarding | ||
| and related services to dogs or cats for breeding, sheltering, | ||
| training, hunting, or similar purposes in exchange for compensation | ||
| or other consideration. | ||
| Sec. 824.002. EXCEPTIONS TO APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER. This | ||
| chapter does not apply to: | ||
| (1) an animal shelter as defined by Chapter 823; | ||
| (2) a veterinary medicine clinic; or | ||
| (3) a kennel that boards not more than three dogs or | ||
| cats at any time. | ||
| Sec. 824.003. REQUIRED SMOKE OR SIMILAR DETECTION SYSTEM OR | ||
| EMPLOYEE PRESENCE. (a) A kennel owner or operator shall: | ||
| (1) install and maintain in good working order a smoke | ||
| or similar detection system in each building on the premises of the | ||
| kennel; or | ||
| (2) ensure a kennel employee remains on the premises | ||
| at all times when one or more dogs or cats are on the premises for | ||
| boarding and related services. | ||
| (b) The system required under Subsection (a)(1) must: | ||
| (1) include a fire protection sprinkler system; | ||
| (2) be operable at all times when a dog or cat is on the | ||
| premises of the kennel; and | ||
| (3) instantaneously alert a kennel employee and each | ||
| local fire department with jurisdiction over the kennel on | ||
| detection of a fire or potential fire hazard that triggers the | ||
| system. | ||
| Sec. 824.004. CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) A kennel owner or | ||
| operator commits an offense if: | ||
| (1) the owner or operator violates Section 824.003; | ||
| and | ||
| (2) the violation results in the injury or death of a | ||
| dog or cat boarded at or receiving services from the kennel. | ||
| (b) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. | ||
