81R10971 PMO-D
By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1806
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to liens for certain veterinary care charges for large
animals.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 70, Property Code, is
amended by adding Section 70.010 to read as follows:
Sec. 70.010. LIENS FOR VETERINARY CARE CHARGES FOR LARGE
ANIMALS. (a) In this section, "large animal" means exotic
livestock or a cow, horse, mule, ass, sheep, goat, llama, alpaca,
farm elk, or hog. The term does not include a common household pet
such as a cat or dog.
(b) A veterinarian licensed under Chapter 801, Occupations
Code, has a lien on a large animal and the proceeds from the
disposition of the large animal to secure the cost of veterinary
care the veterinarian provided to the large animal.
(c) A lien under this section:
(1) attaches on the date the veterinarian first
provides care to the large animal;
(2) attaches regardless of whether the veterinarian
retains possession of the large animal; and
(3) takes priority over all other liens on the large
animal and the proceeds from a disposition of the large animal
regardless of whether the lien under this section was created or
perfected after the date on which another lien was created or
perfected.
(d) The veterinarian may retain possession of a large animal
under this section and enforce a lien under this section as provided
by Section 70.005(c).
(e) A veterinarian who does not retain possession of a large
animal under this section may enforce a lien under this section in
the same manner as a statutory landlord's lien.
SECTION 2. Section 70.010, Property Code, as added by this
Act, applies only to an amount that becomes due to a veterinarian on
or after the effective date of this Act. An amount that becomes due
to a veterinarian before the effective date of this Act is governed
by the law as it existed immediately before the effective date of
this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.