By: Paul, Price, et al. H.B. No. 652
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to notice of an animal's possible exposure in an animal
shelter to certain communicable or infectious diseases.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 823, Health and Safety Code, is amended
by adding Section 823.004 to read as follows:
Sec. 823.004. NOTICE OF CERTAIN COMMUNICABLE OR INFECTIOUS
DISEASES. (a) The department, in consultation with the State Board
of Veterinary Medical Examiners, shall develop and the department
and board shall each post on the agency's Internet website a model
electronic or written notice regarding an animal's possible
exposure to a communicable or infectious disease while the animal
is in an animal shelter. At a minimum the notice must:
(1) warn a person who adopts an animal from a shelter
about the animal's possible exposure to common communicable or
infectious diseases, the incubation period for those diseases, and
the need to monitor the animal for two weeks; and
(2) encourage the person to have a veterinarian
examine the adopted animal after adoption.
(b) An animal shelter may provide the notice developed under
Subsection (a) to a person at the time the person adopts an animal
from the shelter.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.