85R12291 KJE-D
By: West S.B. No. 1930
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the adoption of cats and dogs previously used for
research at public institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 51.956 to read as follows:
Sec. 51.956. ADOPTION OF RETIRED RESEARCH ANIMALS. (a) In
this section:
(1) "Animal rescue organization" means an
organization established primarily to rescue animals and offer the
animals for adoption.
(2) "Animal shelter" means a facility that is operated
by an organization and established primarily to shelter and care
for stray or abandoned animals and offer those animals for
adoption.
(3) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
assigned by Section 61.003.
(4) "Retired research animal" means a cat or dog that
an institution of higher education used in experiments conducted
for education, research, science, or testing purposes and no longer
needs for those purposes.
(b) An institution of higher education shall assess the
health of a retired research animal on its retirement to determine
whether the animal has a substantial medical condition that
prevents the animal from successfully integrating into an adoptive
home. If the animal does not have such a condition, the institution
shall offer the animal for adoption:
(1) through an animal rescue organization or animal
shelter; or
(2) by an individual through an arrangement between
the institution and individual.
(c) An institution of higher education may enter into a
written agreement with an animal rescue organization or animal
shelter that:
(1) provides for a veterinarian employed by the
organization or shelter to perform the health assessment of the
institution's retired research animals as required under
Subsection (b); or
(2) addresses the transfer of the institution's
retired research animals to the organization or shelter.
(d) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt
rules necessary to implement this section.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.