Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4413 Compare Versions

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1	1	88R18806 KBB-D
2	2	By: Guillen, Cain, Burns, et al. H.B. No. 4413
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the establishment of a task force to make
8	8	recommendations for updating the livestock brand registration
9	9	process.
10	10	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	11	SECTION 1. Chapter 144, Agriculture Code, is amended by
12	12	adding Subchapter D to read as follows:
13	13	SUBCHAPTER D. UPDATED LIVESTOCK BRAND REGISTRATION TASK FORCE
14	14	Sec. 144.061. ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION OF TASK FORCE.
15	15	(a) The updated livestock brand registration task force is
16	16	established under this subchapter to make recommendations for
17	17	updating the process of brand registration before the upcoming
18	18	brand registration renewals required in 2031.
19	19	(b) The Texas Animal Health Commission shall establish the
20	20	task force. The task force is composed of:
21	21	(1) two representatives from the County and District
22	22	Clerks Association of Texas;
23	23	(2) two representatives from county sheriff's
24	24	departments;
25	25	(3) two representatives from the Texas and
26	26	Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association;
27	27	(4) two representatives from the Independent
28	28	Cattlemen's Association of Texas;
29	29	(5) two representatives from the Texas Sheep and Goat
30	30	Raisers Association;
31	31	(6) two representatives from the Texas Pork Producers
32	32	Association;
33	33	(7) two representatives from the Texas A&M AgriLife
34	34	Extension Service; and
35	35	(8) two representatives from any other association or
36	36	department that the Texas Animal Health Commission determines
37	37	necessary.
38	38	Sec. 144.062. DUTIES OF TASK FORCE. The updated livestock
39	39	brand registration task force shall:
40	40	(1) develop recommendations for the implementation of
41	41	a digital registration method for livestock brands that:
42	42	(A) is standard across all counties;
43	43	(B) uses a database that will standardize the
44	44	format of information for all counties; and
45	45	(C) has other attributes of functionality that
46	46	the task force identifies as useful;
47	47	(2) develop recommendations for a technology to
48	48	identify livestock that would be standardized across the state and:
49	49	(A) allows the information to be read wirelessly
50	50	at a distance of at least 30 feet;
51	51	(B) interfaces with the statewide digital brand
52	52	database;
53	53	(C) is easy to implement across all producers,
54	54	including large scale and small scale producers;
55	55	(D) allows easy identification of the owners of
56	56	estray livestock; and
57	57	(E) has other attributes of functionality that
58	58	the task force identifies as useful;
59	59	(3) develop recommendations for updating Chapter 142,
60	60	Agriculture Code, that:
61	61	(A) would simplify and speed the process of
62	62	reuniting estray livestock with owners;
63	63	(B) reduces the operational and financial burden
64	64	placed on law enforcement and political subdivisions associated
65	65	with estray livestock; and
66	66	(C) has other attributes of functionality that
67	67	the task force identifies as useful;
68	68	(4) develop recommendations for creating a digital
69	69	guide of best practices for livestock owners, political
70	70	subdivisions, and law enforcement agencies associated with estray
71	71	livestock and livestock branding and identification; and
72	72	(5) establish other goals or recommendations the task
73	73	force identifies as within its scope and worth pursuing or
74	74	recommending.
75	75	Sec. 144.063. GIFTS. The updated livestock brand
76	76	registration task force may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and
77	77	donations from public and private entities to use for the purposes
78	78	of this subchapter.
79	79	Sec. 144.064. REPORTS. The updated livestock brand
80	80	registration task force shall prepare and submit reports based on
81	81	the task force's recommendations to the governor, lieutenant
82	82	governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and the chairs
83	83	of the relevant legislative committees. The task force shall
84	84	submit:
85	85	(1) a first interim report not later than December 1,
86	86	2024;
87	87	(2) a second interim report not later than December 1,
88	88	2026;
89	89	(3) a third interim report not later than December 1,
90	90	2028;
91	91	(4) a final interim report not later than December 1,
92	92	2030; and
93	93	(5) not later than December 1, 2032, a comprehensive
94	94	report of the task force's analysis and findings after the
95	95	implementation of the updated brand registration process following
96	96	the brand renewal in 2031.
97	97	Sec. 144.065. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires January
98	98	1, 2033.
99	99	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.