Bill Text: TX HB2722 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the trap, sterilize, and release program for stray cats in certain counties.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-04-04 - Left pending in committee [HB2722 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB2722-Introduced.html

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86R13816 SCL-F
By: Reynolds H.B. No. 2722

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the trap, sterilize, and release program for stray cats
in certain counties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 828, Health and Safety Code, is amended
by adding Section 828.015 to read as follows:
Sec. 828.015. TRAP, STERILIZE, AND RELEASE PROGRAM FOR
CERTAIN COUNTIES. (a) In this section:
(1) "Department" means the Department of State Health
Services.
(2) "Program" means the trap, sterilize, and release
program established under this section.
(b) This section applies only to a county with a population
of 550,000 or more that is adjacent to a county with a population of
3.3 million or more.
(c) The department shall establish the trap, sterilize, and
release program to protect the public safety by controlling the
stray cat population in a county in which the program is
established.
(d) The department shall contract with appropriate
releasing agencies to operate the program. In the contract, the
department must maintain sufficient control to ensure the public
purpose of improved public safety is accomplished and the state
receives the return benefit.
(e) In operating the program, a releasing agency shall:
(1) humanely trap stray cats located in a county for
which the program is established;
(2) transport the trapped stray cat to a veterinarian
or animal clinic for:
(A) sterilization and vaccination of the cat; and
(B) removal of a quarter-inch from the tip of the
cat's left ear while the cat is anesthetized as a sign of the
sterilization and vaccination; and
(3) return the sterilized and vaccinated cat to the
location where the cat was trapped or appropriately relocate the
cat provided that the location is not:
(A) public land for wildlife or outdoor
recreation activities, including lands owned or managed by:
(i) the Parks and Wildlife Department;
(ii) the Department of Agriculture;
(iii) the National Park Service; or
(iv) the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service of the United States Department of the Interior; or
(B) a land recognized as located within coastal
migratory bird pathways.
SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2020, the Department of
State Health Services shall establish the trap, sterilize, and
release program required by Section 828.015, Health and Safety
Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.