By: Meyer (Senate Sponsor - Hancock) H.B. No. 4069
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 15, 2023;
May 16, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Water,
Agriculture & Rural Affairs; May 19, 2023, reported favorably by
the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 19, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE VOTE
YeaNayAbsentPNV
PerryX
HancockX
BlancoX
FloresX
GutierrezX
JohnsonX
KolkhorstX
SparksX
SpringerX
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the required disclosure of prices by a veterinarian
before providing emergency treatment to an ill or injured animal.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 801, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 801.3581 to read as follows:
Sec. 801.3581. PRICE TRANSPARENCY FOR EMERGENCY CARE. (a)
The board shall adopt rules to require a veterinarian to disclose to
the owner or other caretaker of an animal the following information
before providing emergency treatment to an ill or injured animal:
(1) a description of the proposed treatment; and
(2) the estimated price of the proposed treatment.
(b) Rules adopted under this section must ensure the
veterinarian has a reasonable opportunity to:
(1) assess the animal's condition and develop proposed
options for treatment before providing the information described by
Subsection (a); and
(2) propose additional treatment options and price
estimates based on changes in the animal's medical condition.
SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2023, the State Board
of Veterinary Medical Examiners shall adopt rules to implement
Section 801.3581, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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