| 4 | 6 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 7 | | |
|---|
| 6 | 8 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 7 | 9 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 8 | 10 | | relating to the study and approval of lethal pesticides for feral |
|---|
| 9 | 11 | | hog control. |
|---|
| 10 | 12 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 11 | 13 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 76, Agriculture Code, is |
|---|
| 12 | 14 | | amended by adding Section 76.048 to read as follows: |
|---|
| 13 | 15 | | Sec. 76.048. FERAL HOG TOXICANTS; STUDY REQUIRED. (a) |
|---|
| 14 | 16 | | Notwithstanding any other law, the department may not register, |
|---|
| 15 | 17 | | approve for use, or allow the use of a lethal pesticide, including |
|---|
| 16 | 18 | | warfarin, for feral hog control in this state unless a study under |
|---|
| 17 | 19 | | Subsection (b) recommends the pesticide be registered for that use. |
|---|
| 18 | 20 | | (b) A state agency or institution of higher education may |
|---|
| 19 | 21 | | perform a scientific study of potential feral hog control measures |
|---|
| 20 | 22 | | in this state. The study must: |
|---|
| 21 | 23 | | (1) include controlled field trials; |
|---|
| 22 | 24 | | (2) examine the potential use of warfarin or other |
|---|
| 23 | 25 | | lethal pesticides for feral hog control; |
|---|
| 24 | 26 | | (3) assess the negative impacts to wildlife, |
|---|
| 25 | 27 | | agricultural interests, and property owners of the control measures |
|---|
| 26 | 28 | | included in the study; and |
|---|
| 27 | 29 | | (4) assess the environmental consequences of the |
|---|
| 28 | 30 | | control measures included in the study. |
|---|
| 29 | 31 | | (c) A state agency or institution of higher education shall |
|---|
| 30 | 32 | | publish the findings, recommendations, and results of a study under |
|---|
| 31 | 33 | | Subsection (b) in the Texas Register. |
|---|
| 32 | 34 | | (d) A state agency or institution of higher education that |
|---|
| 33 | 35 | | performs a study under Subsection (b): |
|---|
| 34 | 36 | | (1) is subject to Chapter 552, Government Code, in |
|---|
| 35 | 37 | | connection with the study; and |
|---|
| 36 | 38 | | (2) shall hold public hearings to obtain input from |
|---|
| 37 | 39 | | the public and appropriate stakeholders. |
|---|
| 38 | 40 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|---|
| 39 | 41 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|---|
| 40 | 42 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|---|
| 41 | 43 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|---|
| 42 | 44 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
|---|