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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a state animal identification program and the |
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identification of animals vaccinated for or infected with |
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brucellosis. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 161.056(a) and (c), Agriculture Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) In order to provide for disease control and enhance the |
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ability to trace disease-infected animals or animals that have been |
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exposed to disease, the commission may develop and implement a |
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state [an] animal identification program for a species that is no |
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more stringent than the federal animal disease traceability or |
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animal identification program for that species [consistent with the
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United States Department of Agriculture's National Animal
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Identification System]. |
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(c) The commission may require the use of official |
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identification numbers assigned as part of the state animal |
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identification program [for animal disease control, animal
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emergency management, and other commission programs]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 163.064(c), Agriculture Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(c) The commission may by rule regulate and require the |
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vaccination of female cattle within all or any of the area |
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classifications. Among other rules, the commission may adopt rules |
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providing for: |
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(1) the identification of cattle to be vaccinated |
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consistent with Section 161.056; |
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(2) approval of the vaccine used; and |
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(3) the method of administering the vaccine. |
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SECTION 3. Section 163.065(a), Agriculture Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) If a tested animal shows evidence of infection with |
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brucellosis, the person performing the test shall handle the animal |
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in accordance with the rules of the commission. The commission may |
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prescribe requirements according to the classification of the area |
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in which the animal is located. Among other requirements, the |
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commission may require the person performing the test to: |
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(1) furnish the owner of the animal with written data |
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showing that the animal is infected; |
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(2) fire brand the animal on the left jaw with the |
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letter "B"; and |
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(3) place an approved, numbered identification on the |
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animal consistent with Section 161.056[; and
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[(4)
report the identification number in writing to
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the commission]. |
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SECTION 4. Sections 161.056(b), (d), (g), and (h), |
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Agriculture Code, are repealed. |
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SECTION 5. (a) The repeal by this Act of Section |
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161.056(g), Agriculture Code, does not apply to an offense |
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committed under that subsection before the effective date of this |
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Act. For purposes of this section, an offense is committed before |
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the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs |
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before that date. |
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(b) An offense committed before the effective date of this |
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Act is governed by Section 161.056(g), Agriculture Code, as it |
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existed when the offense was committed, and the former law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |