TITLE: Relating to the quarantine of certain animals.

SUMMARY: Relating to the quarantine of certain animals.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the quarantine of certain animals. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 826.042, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Subsections (f) and (g) to read as follows: (f) At the time an owner submits for quarantine an animal described by Subsection (b), the veterinarian or local rabies control authority, as applicable, shall: (1) provide written notification to the animal's owner of the date the animal enters quarantine and the date the animal will be released from quarantine; (2) obtain and retain with the animal's records a written statement signed by the animal's owner and a supervisor employed by the veterinarian or local rabies control authority acknowledging that the information required by Subdivision (1) has been provided to the animal's owner; and (3) provide the animal's owner a copy of the signed written statement obtained under Subdivision (2). (g) A veterinarian or local rabies control authority, as applicable, shall identify each animal quarantined under this section with a placard or other marking on the animal's kennel that indicates the animal is quarantined under this section. SECTION 2. Section 826.043, Health and Safety Code, is amended by amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: (d) Except as provided by Subsection (e), the [The] veterinarian or local rabies control authority may sell the animal and retain the proceeds or keep, grant, or destroy an animal if the owner or custodian does not take possession of the animal before the fourth day following the final day of the quarantine period. (e) A veterinarian or local rabies control authority may not destroy an animal following the final day of the quarantine period unless the veterinarian or local rabies control authority has: (1) notified the animal's owner of the animal's scheduled destruction; and (2) provided the animal's owner a reasonable opportunity to take possession of the animal after providing the notice required by Subdivision (1). SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.