| 1 | 1 | | 88R14177 MCF-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Shaheen H.B. No. 4816 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the prohibited requirement of a rabies report on or |
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| 8 | 8 | | quarantine of certain domesticated dogs, cats, and ferrets. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 826, Health and Safety |
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| 11 | 11 | | Code, is amended by adding Section 826.0425 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 826.0425. PROHIBITED REQUIREMENT OF CERTAIN REPORTS OR |
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| 13 | 13 | | QUARANTINE. The executive commissioner may not adopt a rule to |
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| 14 | 14 | | require: |
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| 15 | 15 | | (1) a person to report an incident involving an animal |
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| 16 | 16 | | bite or scratch if: |
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| 17 | 17 | | (A) the bite or scratch was from a domesticated |
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| 18 | 18 | | dog, cat, or ferret; and |
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| 19 | 19 | | (B) the person does not reasonably foresee the |
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| 20 | 20 | | dog, cat, or ferret as capable of transmitting rabies and does not |
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| 21 | 21 | | suspect the dog, cat, or ferret is rabid; or |
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| 22 | 22 | | (2) the owner of a domesticated dog, cat, or ferret to |
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| 23 | 23 | | submit the animal to quarantine under this chapter if the owner |
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| 24 | 24 | | lacks probable cause to believe the animal is rabid or may have been |
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| 25 | 25 | | exposed to rabies. |
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| 26 | 26 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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