Bill Text: TX HB4759 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Relating to an attack by a dangerous dog; increasing criminal penalties.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-1)

Status: (Vetoed) 2023-06-17 - Vetoed by the Governor [HB4759 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB4759-Introduced.html

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88R16186 MPF-F
By: Campos H.B. No. 4759

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an attack by a dangerous dog; increasing a criminal
penalty.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 822.0421, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1),
(a-2), and (e) to read as follows:
(a) If a person reports an incident described by Section
822.041(2), the animal control authority shall [may] investigate
the incident. The animal control authority shall determine whether
the dog is a dangerous dog by observing and documenting the behavior
of the dog or by examining [If , after receiving] the sworn
statements of any witnesses. If[,] the animal control authority
determines the dog is a dangerous dog, the animal control authority
shall notify the owner in writing of the determination.
(a-1) A dog is presumed to be a dangerous dog for the
purposes of this section if an incident described by Section
822.041(2) results in:
(1) serious bodily injury, as defined by Section
822.001, or death of an individual;
(2) the transport of an individual to a hospital;
(3) the filing of a police report on the incident; or
(4) the arrest of the owner.
(a-2) If the animal control authority determines that a dog
is a dangerous dog under this section, the authority must
immediately notify an appropriate law enforcement agency and the
local county or district attorney with jurisdiction of the
incident.
(e) The identifying information of a witness who gives a
sworn statement under Subsection (a) is not subject to disclosure
under Chapter 552, Government Code. In this subsection,
"identifying information" has the meaning assigned by Section
32.51, Penal Code.
SECTION 2. Section 822.044, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to
read as follows:
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), an [An] offense
under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
(b-1) An offense under this section is a felony of the third
degree if it is shown on trial of the offense that the defendant has
been previously convicted of an offense under this section.
SECTION 3. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this
section, Section 822.0421, Health and Safety Code, as amended by
this Act, applies only to a determination based on an incident that
occurred on or after the effective date of this Act. An incident
that occurred before the effective date of this Act is governed by
the law in effect on the date the incident occurred, and the former
law is continued in effect for that purpose.
(b) Section 822.0421(e), Health and Safety Code, as added by
this Act, applies to information contained in a sworn statement
released on or after the effective date of this Act, regardless of
whether the sworn statement was made before, on, or after that date.
SECTION 4. Section 822.044, Health and Safety Code, as
amended by this Act, applies only to an offense committed on or
after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before
the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on
the date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued
in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an
offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any
element of the offense occurred before that date.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.