88R6867 MPF-F
By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 691
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an animal share exemption for certain meat and meat food
products; providing a civil penalty.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 433, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 433.0065 to read as follows:
Sec. 433.0065. ANIMAL SHARE EXEMPTION; CIVIL PENALTY. (a)
In this section, "animal share" means an ownership interest in
livestock created by a contract between a consumer and a farmer or
rancher who owns the livestock.
(b) An animal share executed by a consumer and a farmer or
rancher under this section must include:
(1) a bill of sale the farmer or rancher provides to
the consumer conveying to the consumer an ownership interest in the
livestock;
(2) a provision authorizing the farmer or rancher to
board the livestock and arrange preparation of the livestock as
meat and meat food products for the consumer; and
(3) a provision entitling the consumer to a share of
meat and meat food products derived from the livestock.
(c) The provisions of this chapter requiring inspection of
livestock before slaughter and inspection of the preparation of
meat and meat food products do not apply to the slaughter of
livestock and preparation of meat and meat food products if:
(1) ownership of the livestock under an animal share
is established before the livestock is slaughtered and the meat and
meat food products are prepared;
(2) the meat and meat food products are:
(A) prepared from livestock subject to an animal
share and delivered to the establishment preparing the products by
the farmer or rancher boarding the livestock; and
(B) following preparation, delivered directly to
the consumer who owns the animal share;
(3) on delivery of the meat or meat food products to
the consumer, the establishment provides to the consumer notice
that the department has not inspected the meat or meat food products
in:
(A) a separate written statement that
prominently displays the warning; or
(B) a warning statement prominently displayed on
a label affixed to the meat or meat food product packaging; and
(4) the farmer or rancher provides to the consumer
information describing the standards the farmer or rancher followed
in maintaining livestock health and preparing the meat and meat
food products derived from the livestock.
(d) A consumer may not sell, donate, or commercially
redistribute meat or meat food products delivered to the consumer
in accordance with this section. A person who violates this
subsection is liable to this state for a civil penalty in the amount
of $10,000 for each violation. The attorney general may bring an
action to recover a civil penalty authorized under this subsection
and may recover reasonable expenses incurred in obtaining the civil
penalty, including court costs, attorney's fees, investigative
costs, witness fees, and deposition expenses.
(e) A farmer or rancher may not publish a statement that
implies department approval or endorsement regarding meat or meat
food products delivered pursuant to an animal share.
SECTION 2. Section 433.024(b), Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) The department shall inspect each slaughtering
establishment whose primary business is the selling of livestock to
be slaughtered by the purchaser on premises owned or operated by the
seller. This subsection does not nullify the provisions in Section
433.006 relating to exemptions or Section 433.0065 relating to an
animal share exemption.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.