| 1 | 1 | | 81R879 YDB-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Dutton H.B. No. 925 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the handling of or caring for a pit bull breed of dog by |
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| 8 | 8 | | certain minors; providing penalties. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 822, Health and Safety |
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| 11 | 11 | | Code, is amended by adding Sections 822.009 and 822.010 to read as |
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| 12 | 12 | | follows: |
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| 13 | 13 | | Sec. 822.009. PIT BULL BREED OF DOG: ADULT SUPERVISION |
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| 14 | 14 | | REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN MINORS. (a) In this section and Section |
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| 15 | 15 | | 822.010, "pit bull breed of dog" means any Staffordshire Bull |
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| 16 | 16 | | Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull |
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| 17 | 17 | | Terrier, or any mixed breed of dog that exhibits distinguishing |
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| 18 | 18 | | characteristics that substantially conform to the American Kennel |
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| 19 | 19 | | Club or United Kennel Club standards for those breeds. |
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| 20 | 20 | | (b) A minor who is 15 years of age or younger may not handle |
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| 21 | 21 | | or care for a pit bull breed of dog without adult supervision. |
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| 22 | 22 | | (c) The owner of a pit bull breed of dog who allows a minor |
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| 23 | 23 | | who is 15 years of age or younger to handle or care for the dog |
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| 24 | 24 | | without adult supervision is liable for damages for death or bodily |
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| 25 | 25 | | injury to a person that occurs while the dog is handled or cared for |
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| 26 | 26 | | by the minor. |
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| 27 | 27 | | Sec. 822.010. OFFENSE. (a) The owner of a pit bull breed of |
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| 28 | 28 | | dog commits an offense if the owner allows a minor who is 15 years of |
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| 29 | 29 | | age or younger to handle or care for the dog without adult |
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| 30 | 30 | | supervision. |
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| 31 | 31 | | (b) An offense under Subsection (a) is a Class C |
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| 32 | 32 | | misdemeanor. |
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| 33 | 33 | | SECTION 2. Section 822.009, Health and Safety Code, as |
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| 34 | 34 | | added by this Act, applies only to damages that occur on or after |
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| 35 | 35 | | the effective date of this Act. |
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| 36 | 36 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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