89R1742 BEE-D
By: Guillen H.B. No. 269
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the Institute for Chronic Wasting
Disease Research.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 86, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 86.83 to read as follows:
Sec. 86.83. INSTITUTE FOR CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE RESEARCH.
(a) In this section:
(1) "Breeder deer," "deer," and "deer breeder" have
the meanings assigned to those terms by Section 43.351, Parks and
Wildlife Code.
(2) "Chronic wasting disease" means a transmissible
spongiform encephalopathy infecting deer and related species and
their hybrids.
(3) "Institute" means the Institute for Chronic
Wasting Disease Research.
(b) The Institute for Chronic Wasting Disease Research is a
component of Texas A&M University.
(c) The institute is under the management and direction of
the board.
(d) The institute may employ personnel.
(e) The institute may accept a gift or grant from any public
or private source for the benefit of the institute.
(f) The institute shall, in partnership with deer breeders:
(1) study the progression of chronic wasting disease;
(2) analyze the genetic profiles of deer infected with
chronic wasting disease;
(3) develop:
(A) strategies to prevent chronic wasting
disease;
(B) efforts to mitigate transmission of chronic
wasting disease; and
(C) treatments for chronic wasting disease; and
(4) evaluate the implementation of strategies,
mitigation efforts, and treatments developed under Subdivision
(3), including for breeder deer.
(g) The institute may conduct an activity described by
Subsection (f) at a location:
(1) for which a deer breeder's permit was issued, at
the deer breeder's request; or
(2) operated by the institute.
(h) A deer breeder who makes available to the institute a
breeder deer for an activity described by Subsection (f) is
entitled to compensation from the institute for:
(1) a breeder deer on which the institute directly
conducts the activity, regardless of the location of the activity;
and
(2) any breeder deer at the deer breeder's permitted
location that the breeder is prohibited from selling, transferring,
or releasing because the institute conducts an activity described
by Subsection (f) at the location.
(i) Notwithstanding any other law, a deer breeder or the
institute may transfer a breeder deer from the location for which
the deer breeder's permit was issued to the institute to conduct an
activity described by Subsection (f).
SECTION 2. The Institute for Chronic Wasting Disease
Research is required to implement a provision of this Act only if
the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose.
If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
purpose, the institute may, but is not required to, implement a
provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that
purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.