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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the development and maintenance of certain records and |
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written policies of animal shelters and releasing agencies; |
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amending a provision subject to a criminal penalty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 823, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 823. ANIMAL SHELTERS AND RELEASING AGENCIES |
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SECTION 2. Section 823.001, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Subdivision (5) to read as follows: |
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(5) "Releasing agency" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 828.001. |
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SECTION 3. Section 823.003(e), Health and Safety Code, as |
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amended by S.B. No. 219, Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2015, is amended to read as follows: |
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(e) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall [may] require each person operating an |
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animal shelter to keep records as required by Section 823.010. The |
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board may require the animal shelter [of the date and disposition of
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animals in its custody,] to maintain the records on the business |
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premises of the animal shelter[,] and to make the records available |
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for inspection at reasonable times. |
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SECTION 4. Chapter 823, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 823.010 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 823.010. INTAKE AND DISPOSITION RECORDS FOR ANIMAL |
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SHELTERS AND RELEASING AGENCIES. (a) Each animal shelter or |
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releasing agency operated in this state shall prepare and maintain |
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records regarding the intake and disposition of animals in the care |
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of the shelter or agency, including: |
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(1) the total number of animals, categorized by |
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species, as dog, cat, or other, taken in by the animal shelter or |
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releasing agency and the reason an animal was taken in, including |
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whether the animal was: |
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(A) surrendered by the animal's owner; |
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(B) impounded as a stray; |
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(C) impounded for a reason other than being a |
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stray; |
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(D) confiscated; |
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(E) transferred to the shelter or agency from a |
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location in this state; |
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(F) transferred to the shelter or agency from a |
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location outside this state; or |
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(G) born in the shelter or under the care of the |
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agency; |
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(2) the number of animals at the animal shelter or |
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releasing agency on the last day of each month; and |
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(3) the disposition of each animal taken in by the |
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animal shelter or releasing agency, categorized by species, |
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including whether the animal: |
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(A) was adopted; |
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(B) was reclaimed by the animal's owner; |
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(C) died in the shelter or under the care of the |
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agency; |
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(D) was transferred from the shelter or agency; |
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(E) was euthanized by the shelter or agency on a |
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decision made by the shelter or agency; |
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(F) was euthanized at the owner's request; |
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(G) was a cat returned to the field as part of a |
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sterilization program; or |
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(H) was lost or stolen while in the shelter's or |
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agency's care. |
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(b) An animal shelter or releasing agency shall monthly |
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prepare the records required by Subsection (a). |
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(c) An animal shelter or releasing agency shall maintain |
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records prepared under Subsection (a) until at least the third |
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anniversary of the date the record was prepared. |
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(d) An animal shelter or releasing agency shall make the |
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records required by this section available to the public. |
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SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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an animal taken in or disposed of by an animal shelter or releasing |
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agency or counted in the shelter's or agency's animal total on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |