| 1 | 1 | | 88R10860 MP-F |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Ashby H.B. No. 5239 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | relating to costs associated with the destruction of certain deer. |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Section 43.955, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | amended to read as follows: |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | Sec. 43.955. COST RECOVERY. (a) The applicable permit |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | holder shall pay all costs associated with: |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | (1) an epidemiological assessment conducted under |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | this subchapter to the animal health commission; and |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | (2) except as provided by Subsection (b), the |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | destruction of deer under this subchapter to the department. |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | (b) The department may waive the costs associated with the |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | destruction under this subchapter of breeder deer at a facility |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | covered by a permit issued under Subchapter L if: |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | (1) a breeder deer at the facility has tested positive |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | for chronic wasting disease in a test performed by an accredited |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | testing laboratory; and |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | (2) the department determines that the breeder deer's |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | infection with chronic wasting disease was not the fault of the |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | permit holder. |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | SECTION 2. Section 43.955, Parks and Wildlife Code, as |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | amended by this Act, applies only to the payment of costs arising |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | from the destruction of deer commenced on or after the effective |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | date of this Act. |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
|---|