By: Farrar H.B. No. 234
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the costs associated with proceedings regarding cruelly
treated animals; authorizing fees and costs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 821.023(e), Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(e) After a court finds that an animal's owner has cruelly
treated the animal, the court may order the owner to pay the
county's or municipality's reasonable attorney's fees, and shall
order the owner to pay all court costs, including:
(1) the administrative costs of:
(A) investigation;
(B) expert witnesses; and
(C) conducting any public sale ordered by the
court; and
(2) the costs incurred by a municipal or county animal
shelter or a nonprofit animal welfare organization in:
(A) housing and caring for the animal during its
impoundment; and
(B) humanely destroying the animal if
destruction is ordered by the court.
SECTION 2. Section 821.025, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (i) to read as follows:
(i) After a county court or county court at law finds that an
animal's owner has cruelly treated the animal, the court may order
the owner to pay the county's or municipality's reasonable
attorney's fees and court costs, including the costs of
investigation and expert witnesses.
SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a proceeding commenced under Section 821.023 or 821.025, Health
and Safety Code, on or after
the effective date of this Act. A
proceeding commenced before the effective date of this Act is
covered by the law in effect at the time the proceeding is
commenced, and the former law is continued in effect for that
purpose.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.