By: Vasut H.B. No. 4616
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to notifications by the Texas Department of Agriculture
concerning a stop-sale order, seizure, or destruction of certain
plant or animal products.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, is amended by
adding Sec. 12.051. to read as follows:
Sec. 12.051. NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN ACTIONS TAKEN BY
DEPARTMENT. (a) The Department shall report to the Governor,
Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, and the appropriate
legislative oversight committees each time the Department issues a
stop-sale order or otherwise seizes, bars the sale of, or destroys
any plant or animal product.
(b) A notification subject to Subsection (a) shall be made
within 24 hours of the issuance of the applicable order or the
action taken and shall include the following information:
(1) the date and time of the order or action taken;
(2) the location of the plant or animal product
seized, barred from sale, or destroyed;
(3) the reason(s) for the issuance of the order or
action taken, including the agency rule and statute used as
justification for the issuance of the order or action taken;
(4) the type and quantity of plant or animal product
seized, barred from sale, or destroyed;
(5) the name and contact information of the owner or
operator of the plant or animal product, if known;
(6) the name and contact information of the inspector
or other person responsible for the order or action taken; and,
(7) any other information deemed relevant by the
Department.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2023.