Bill Text: TX HB1958 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to the regulation of livestock export-import processing facilities; creating a criminal offense.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 9-2)
Status: (Passed) 2021-06-07 - Effective immediately [HB1958 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB1958-Enrolled.html
| H.B. No. 1958 | ||
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| relating to the regulation of livestock export-import processing | ||
| facilities; creating a criminal offense. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 161, Agriculture Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 161.0445 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 161.0445. REGULATION OF EXPORT-IMPORT PROCESSING | ||
| FACILITIES. (a) In this section, "export-import facility" means a | ||
| public or private livestock export-import processing facility that | ||
| is a land border port in this state with the capacity to receive and | ||
| hold livestock and livestock products for transportation in | ||
| international trade. The term includes a department facility | ||
| authorized by Subchapter B, Chapter 146. | ||
| (b) The owner or person in charge of an export-import | ||
| facility shall notify the commission not later than 24 hours after | ||
| an animal received or held at the facility is refused export out of | ||
| this state or entry into another country. | ||
| (c) The commission may require that an animal held at an | ||
| export-import facility be tested or treated for a disease or pest if | ||
| an authorized commission employee considers the test or treatment | ||
| necessary. The commission may require the testing or treatment be | ||
| performed before the animal is removed from the export-import | ||
| facility. This state is not liable for the amount of any fee | ||
| charged for the testing or treatment. | ||
| (d) The commission may, for disease or pest control | ||
| purposes, adopt rules necessary to implement, administer, and | ||
| enforce this section. The rules may include reporting and | ||
| recordkeeping requirements and provisions governing the movement, | ||
| inspection, testing, or treatment of animals. | ||
| (e) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly | ||
| moves an animal in violation of a rule adopted under this section. | ||
| (f) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor, | ||
| except that the offense is a Class B misdemeanor if it is shown on | ||
| the trial of the offense that the defendant has been previously | ||
| convicted under this section. | ||
| SECTION 2. Section 161.0445(b), Agriculture Code, as added | ||
| by this Act, applies to an owner or person in charge of an | ||
| export-import facility beginning on the 30th day after the | ||
| effective date of this Act or on a later date provided by an order | ||
| issued by the executive director of the Texas Animal Health | ||
| Commission. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
| a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
| provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
| Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
| Act takes effect September 1, 2021. | ||
| ______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
| President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
| I certify that H.B. No. 1958 was passed by the House on April | ||
| 16, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 2, 2 present, not | ||
| voting. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
| I certify that H.B. No. 1958 was passed by the Senate on May | ||
| 19, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| APPROVED: _____________________ | ||
| Date | ||
| _____________________ | ||
| Governor | ||
