Bill Text: TX HB809 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the composition of and qualifications for appointment to the Texas Animal Health Commission.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-04-22 - Left pending in committee [HB809 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HB809-Introduced.html
| 84R3235 BEF-F | ||
| By: White of Tyler | H.B. No. 809 | |
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| relating to the composition of and qualifications for appointment | ||
| to the Texas Animal Health Commission. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Section 161.021, Agriculture Code, is amended by | ||
| amending Subsections (a) and (d) and adding Subsection (a-1) to | ||
| read as follows: | ||
| (a) The commission is composed of 15 [ |
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| appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, | ||
| with the appropriate number from each of the following categories: | ||
| (1) a practitioner of veterinary medicine; | ||
| (2) a dairyman; | ||
| (3) a cattle raiser; | ||
| (4) a hog raiser; | ||
| (5) a sheep or goat raiser; | ||
| (6) a poultry raiser; | ||
| (7) an individual involved in the equine industry; | ||
| (8) an individual involved in the feedlot industry; | ||
| (9) an individual involved in the livestock marketing | ||
| industry; | ||
| (10) three members of the general public; [ |
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| (11) an individual involved in the exotic livestock or | ||
| exotic fowl industry; | ||
| (12) an individual who raises livestock, but not more | ||
| than 20 animal units each year as provided by Subsection (a-1); and | ||
| (13) an individual who raises poultry, but not more | ||
| than 100 birds each year. | ||
| (a-1) For purposes of Subsection (a)(12), the Texas A&M | ||
| AgriLife Extension Service shall adopt rules to determine how many | ||
| livestock of a species constitute an animal unit based on the amount | ||
| of forage consumed by livestock of that species. | ||
| (d) A person is not eligible for appointment as a public | ||
| member of the commission if the person or the person's spouse: | ||
| (1) is registered, certified, or licensed by the | ||
| commission; | ||
| (2) is employed by or participates in the management | ||
| of a business entity or other organization: | ||
| (A) regulated by the commission; | ||
| (B) [ |
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| (C) a significant portion of the operations of | ||
| which involves animals that are regulated by the commission; | ||
| (3) owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more | ||
| than a 10 percent interest in a business entity or other | ||
| organization: | ||
| (A) regulated by the commission; | ||
| (B) [ |
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| or | ||
| (C) a significant portion of the operations of | ||
| which involves animals that are regulated by the commission; or | ||
| (4) uses or receives a substantial amount of tangible | ||
| goods, services, or money from the commission, other than | ||
| compensation or reimbursement authorized by law for commission | ||
| membership, attendance, or expenses. | ||
| SECTION 2. Section 161.022, Agriculture Code, is amended to | ||
| read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 161.022. TERM. Commissioners serve for staggered | ||
| terms of six years, with the terms of [ |
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| expiring every other year. | ||
| SECTION 3. As soon as practicable before, on, or after the | ||
| effective date of this Act, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension | ||
| Service shall adopt rules under Section 161.021(a-1), Agriculture | ||
| Code, as added by this Act. | ||
| SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the Texas A&M | ||
| AgriLife Extension Service adopts rules under Section | ||
| 161.021(a-1), Agriculture Code, as added by this Act, the governor | ||
| shall appoint the members of the Texas Animal Health Commission | ||
| under Sections 161.021(a)(12) and (13), Agriculture Code, as added | ||
| by this Act. The governor shall appoint one member to a term | ||
| expiring in September 2017 and one member to a term expiring in | ||
| September 2021. | ||
| SECTION 5. A public member of the Texas Animal Health | ||
| Commission who does not meet the qualifications for office under | ||
| Section 161.021(d), Agriculture Code, as amended by this Act, on | ||
| the effective date of this Act is removed from office on that date. | ||
| If a public member is removed as provided by this section, the | ||
| governor shall appoint a replacement to a term complying with | ||
| Section 161.022, Agriculture Code, as amended by this Act. | ||
| SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. | ||
