By: M. Gonzalez of El Paso, Nevarez H.B. No. 1081
(Senate Sponsor - Rodriguez)
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 6, 2013;
May 7, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on
Agriculture, Rural Affairs, and Homeland Security; May 15, 2013,
reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0;
May 15, 2013, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study regarding the prohibition of dairy farming in
certain areas of the state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. (a) In this Act:
(1) "Commission" means the Texas Animal Health
Commission.
(2) "Department" means the Department of State Health
Services.
(b) The commission shall conduct a study regarding the
current risk level for bovine tuberculosis, as determined
epidemiologically and defined by rule of the commission, in areas
of this state determined by the commission by rule to be infected
with or at high risk for bovine tuberculosis.
(c) Not later than September 1, 2014, the commission shall
submit a report regarding the results of the study to the Department
of Agriculture, the governor, the lieutenant governor, the House
Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, the Senate Committee on
Agriculture, Rural Affairs, and Homeland Security, the House
Committee on Public Health, and the Senate Committee on Health and
Human Services. The report must include:
(1) to the extent possible, an assessment of the risk
level for bovine tuberculosis presented by areas in Mexico
bordering this state;
(2) to the extent possible, a description of the
efforts taken by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural
Development, Fisheries and Food and other agencies of the United
Mexican States to eliminate bovine tuberculosis in the state of
Chihuahua and other areas;
(3) a description of the current practices adopted by
the United States Department of Agriculture and the commission to
eliminate bovine tuberculosis;
(4) an assessment of the risk level for bovine
tuberculosis for the state if dairy farming were to occur in areas
determined by the commission by rule to be infected with or at high
risk for bovine tuberculosis; and
(5) an assessment of whether the areas determined by
the commission by rule to be infected with or at high risk for
bovine tuberculosis could be decreased in size.
(d) As soon as practicable, the commission shall present the
report regarding the results of the study at an open meeting of the
commission.
(e) This Act expires October 1, 2014.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
* * * * *