| 1 | 1 | | 89R14323 MCF-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Flores H.B. No. 4819 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to a refundable adoption fee for the sterilization of dogs |
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| 10 | 10 | | and cats; authorizing a fee. |
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| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Section 828.002, Health and Safety Code, is |
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| 13 | 13 | | amended to read as follows: |
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| 14 | 14 | | Sec. 828.002. REQUIREMENTS FOR ADOPTION. (a) Except as |
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| 15 | 15 | | provided by Section 828.013, a releasing agency may not release a |
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| 16 | 16 | | dog or cat for adoption unless: |
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| 17 | 17 | | (1) the animal has been sterilized; or |
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| 18 | 18 | | (2) the release is made to a new owner who signs an |
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| 19 | 19 | | agreement to have the animal sterilized and pays a refundable $75 |
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| 20 | 20 | | fee. |
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| 21 | 21 | | (b) The releasing agency shall: |
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| 22 | 22 | | (1) collect the fee required under Subsection (a)(2) |
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| 23 | 23 | | from each new owner who adopts a dog or cat that is not sterilized; |
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| 24 | 24 | | and |
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| 25 | 25 | | (2) refund the amount of the collected fee to an owner |
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| 26 | 26 | | who provides to the agency the letter required by Section 828.005 |
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| 27 | 27 | | confirming the adopted dog or cat has been sterilized within the |
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| 28 | 28 | | time required by that section. |
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| 29 | 29 | | (c) Each releasing agency shall remit to the comptroller all |
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| 30 | 30 | | fees not refunded under Subsection (b)(2) in accordance with the |
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| 31 | 31 | | times and methods prescribed by the comptroller. The comptroller |
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| 32 | 32 | | shall deposit the fees to the credit of the account created by the |
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| 33 | 33 | | comptroller in the manner provided by Section 504.6012(b), |
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| 34 | 34 | | Transportation Code. Money deposited to that account may be used |
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| 35 | 35 | | only by the Department of State Health Services to award grants to |
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| 36 | 36 | | eligible organizations for the purpose of providing sterilization |
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| 37 | 37 | | services in accordance with Section 828.014. |
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| 38 | 38 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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