By: Kleinschmidt (Senate Sponsor - Uresti) H.B. No. 3569
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 2013;
May 10, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on
Agriculture, Rural Affairs, and Homeland Security; May 20, 2013,
reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 3, Nays 0;
May 20, 2013, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to activities conducted in connection with a state or
federal disease control or eradication program for animals.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 161, Agriculture Code, is
amended by adding Section 161.0417 to read as follows:
Sec. 161.0417. AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL FOR DISEASE CONTROL.
(a) A person, including a veterinarian, must be authorized by the
commission in order to engage in an activity that is part of a state
or federal disease control or eradication program for animals.
(b) The commission shall adopt rules for the authorization
of a person described by Subsection (a).
(c) The commission may, after reasonable notice, suspend or
revoke a person's authorization under Subsection (a) if the
commission determines that the person has substantially failed to
comply with this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter.
(d) A person is entitled to a hearing before the commission
or a hearing examiner appointed by the commission before the
commission may revoke the person's authorization under Subsection
(a). The commission shall make all final decisions to suspend or
revoke an authorization.
(e) This section does not affect the requirement for a
license or an exemption under Chapter 801, Occupations Code, to
practice veterinary medicine.
SECTION 2. Section 161.0601(a), Agriculture Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) The commission by rule may provide for the issuance,
including electronically, of a certificate of veterinary
inspection by a veterinarian to a person transporting livestock,
exotic livestock, domestic fowl, or exotic fowl.
SECTION 3. Not later than December 1, 2013, the Texas Animal
Health Commission shall adopt rules as required by Section
161.0417, Agriculture Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
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