Texas House Bill HB3854

Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Caption

Relating to animal disease control by the Texas Animal Health Commission; providing an administrative penalty.

Impact

This legislation aims to strengthen the state's capability to safeguard its agricultural resources by enabling a proactive response to detectable animal diseases. By allowing the Texas Animal Health Commission to impose administrative penalties and establish quarantines more efficiently, the bill seeks to ensure rapid mitigation in response to outbreaks. Additionally, it emphasizes timely reporting of specific diseases by veterinarians and individuals in charge of animals, thereby aiming to prevent disease spread and protect animal health across Texas.

Summary

House Bill 3854 seeks to enhance the regulatory framework governing animal disease control within the state of Texas by amending the Agriculture Code. The bill focuses on the Texas Animal Health Commission's authority to manage and mitigate the risk of various communicable diseases affecting livestock, domestic fowl, and exotic fowl. Notably, the bill expands the list of diseases subject to control measures and creates provisions for administering penalties for non-compliance with declared orders related to disease management and reporting requirements.

Contention

While the primary aim of HB 3854 is to bolster animal health regulations, there may be points of contention regarding the scope of the commission's authority. Critics may raise concerns over the potential for overreach if the commission's powers to impose penalties and mandate quarantines are perceived as excessive or not aligned with due process. Furthermore, the bill's amendments regarding the list of reportable diseases indicate areas where local veterinary practices might need to adapt their reporting protocols, which could prompt discussions about operational feasibilities and the costs associated with compliance.