By: A. Johnson of Harris H.B. No. 3439
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to veterinary services performed on certain animals in
the care of a releasing agency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 828.012, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to
read as follows:
(b) A veterinarian employed by a releasing agency may not
perform nonemergency veterinary services other than sterilization
on an animal that the releasing agency knows or should know has an
owner. However, this subsection does not prevent a veterinarian
employed by a releasing agency from performing veterinary services
on an animal whose owner:
(1) is an individual or family whose income is:
(A) not more than 50 percent of the median income
for the area in which the individual or family lives as determined
using a source or methodology accepted under federal law or rule; or
(B) less than the federal poverty level for the
relevant household size; and
(2) submits to the releasing agency evidence to
establish the owner qualifies as an individual or family described
by Subdivision (1) [is indigent].
(b-1) If a veterinarian employed by a releasing agency
performs veterinary services on an animal whose owner qualifies as
an individual or family described by Subsection (b)(1), the agency
shall:
(1) maintain the evidence the owner submits to the
agency under Subsection (b)(2); and
(2) on request of the State Board of Veterinary
Medical Examiners, make the evidence available to the board for
inspection.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.