| 1 | 1 | | H.B. No. 4069 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | AN ACT |
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| 5 | 5 | | relating to the required disclosure of prices by a veterinarian |
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| 6 | 6 | | before providing emergency treatment to an ill or injured animal. |
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| 7 | 7 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 8 | 8 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 801, Occupations Code, is |
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| 9 | 9 | | amended by adding Section 801.3581 to read as follows: |
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| 10 | 10 | | Sec. 801.3581. PRICE TRANSPARENCY FOR EMERGENCY CARE. (a) |
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| 11 | 11 | | The board shall adopt rules to require a veterinarian to disclose to |
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| 12 | 12 | | the owner or other caretaker of an animal the following information |
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| 13 | 13 | | before providing emergency treatment to an ill or injured animal: |
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| 14 | 14 | | (1) a description of the proposed treatment; and |
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| 15 | 15 | | (2) the estimated price of the proposed treatment. |
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| 16 | 16 | | (b) Rules adopted under this section must ensure the |
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| 17 | 17 | | veterinarian has a reasonable opportunity to: |
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| 18 | 18 | | (1) assess the animal's condition and develop proposed |
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| 19 | 19 | | options for treatment before providing the information described by |
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| 20 | 20 | | Subsection (a); and |
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| 21 | 21 | | (2) propose additional treatment options and price |
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| 22 | 22 | | estimates based on changes in the animal's medical condition. |
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| 23 | 23 | | SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2023, the State Board |
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| 24 | 24 | | of Veterinary Medical Examiners shall adopt rules to implement |
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| 25 | 25 | | Section 801.3581, Occupations Code, as added by this Act. |
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| 26 | 26 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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| 27 | 27 | | ______________________________ ______________________________ |
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| 28 | 28 | | President of the Senate Speaker of the House |
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| 29 | 29 | | I certify that H.B. No. 4069 was passed by the House on May |
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| 30 | 30 | | 12, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 130, Nays 7, 2 present, not |
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| 31 | 31 | | voting. |
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| 32 | 32 | | ______________________________ |
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| 33 | 33 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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| 34 | 34 | | I certify that H.B. No. 4069 was passed by the Senate on May |
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| 35 | 35 | | 23, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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| 36 | 36 | | ______________________________ |
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| 37 | 37 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 38 | 38 | | APPROVED: _____________________ |
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| 39 | 39 | | Date |
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| 40 | 40 | | _____________________ |
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| 41 | 41 | | Governor |
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