Bill Text: TX SB1057 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to inspection of certain vacant properties for abandoned animals; providing a civil penalty.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-03-06 - Referred to Business & Commerce [SB1057 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-SB1057-Introduced.html
| 85R8684 BEE-F | ||
| By: West | S.B. No. 1057 | |
|
|
||
|
|
||
| relating to inspection of certain vacant properties for abandoned | ||
| animals; providing a civil penalty. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Title 10, Health and Safety Code, is amended by | ||
| adding Chapter 830 to read as follows: | ||
| CHAPTER 830. ABANDONED ANIMALS | ||
| Sec. 830.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: | ||
| (1) "Abandoned" means left without reasonable | ||
| arrangements for the assumption of custody by another person. | ||
| (2) "Animal" means a domesticated living creature, | ||
| including livestock. The term does not include an uncaptured wild | ||
| living creature. | ||
| (3) "Landlord" means the owner, lessor, or sublessor | ||
| of a property that is or has been leased to a residential or | ||
| commercial tenant. | ||
| (4) "Mortgagee" and "mortgagor" have the meanings | ||
| assigned by Section 51.0001, Property Code. | ||
| Sec. 830.002. INSPECTION OF VACANT PROPERTY FOR ABANDONED | ||
| ANIMALS. (a) Not later than the third day after the date a | ||
| landlord, owner, or mortgagee knows or should know that a property | ||
| under the landlord's, owner's, or mortgagee's control has been | ||
| vacated through eviction, foreclosure, termination of tenancy, | ||
| abandonment, or other permanent removal or exclusion of a tenant or | ||
| mortgagor from the premises, the landlord, owner, or mortgagee | ||
| shall inspect the property for abandoned animals. | ||
| (b) If the landlord, owner, or mortgagee encounters an | ||
| abandoned animal on or in the property, the landlord, owner, or | ||
| mortgagee shall immediately report the presence and condition of | ||
| the animal to: | ||
| (1) an animal control officer; or | ||
| (2) a law enforcement officer. | ||
| (c) A report under Subsection (b) does not create a | ||
| presumption that the person making the report has committed an | ||
| offense under Section 42.09 or 42.092, Penal Code. | ||
| Sec. 830.003. CIVIL PENALTY. A person who violates this | ||
| chapter is liable to the state for a civil penalty of not less than | ||
| $100 or more than $500. | ||
| SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only | ||
| with respect to property vacated on or after the effective date of | ||
| this Act. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. | ||
