Texas Administrative Code › Title 4 - AGRICULTURE › Part 2 - TEXAS ANIMAL HEALTH COMMISSION › Chapter 58 - EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND MANAGEMENT › Subchapter A - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS › Section 58.3 - General Requirements

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12,
				  2024
(a) The State of
				  Texas Emergency Management Plan. This plan defines the organization,
				  establishes operational concepts, assigns responsibilities, and outlines
				  coordination procedures for accomplishing comprehensive emergency management
				  objectives in Texas. The plan contains "Appendix Four to Annex H" which
				  provides guidance for mitigating against, preparing for, identifying and
				  responding to, and recovering from any highly contagious animal disease
				  affecting Texas livestock.
(b)
				  Emergency Management Council. The Emergency Management Council is composed of
				  the heads of state agencies, boards, and commissions and representatives of
				  organized volunteer groups to advise and assist the Governor in all matters
				  relating to disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The
				  Texas Animal Health Commission is a member of that commission. The executive
				  director is authorized to utilize the resources of the commission to fully
				  participate and act to assist the Governor in all matters relating to disaster
				  mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
(c) Executive Director Authorization. The
				  executive director is authorized to utilize all the appropriate resources of
				  the commission to act in accordance with the State Emergency Management Plan
				  and Appendix Four to Annex H. The Texas Emergency Response Team (TERT) is an
				  interagency team comprised of commission personnel and working to respond
				  quickly to emergency's through out the state. They are authorized to respond to
				  potential emergencies and disasters.
(d) Commission Written Instruments. The
				  commission authorizes the executive director and authorized agents of the
				  commission to sign written instruments on behalf of the commission including,
				  but not limited to, issuing, modifying, rescinding a quarantine, any movement
				  restriction as provided in this chapter or in requiring livestock exposed to or
				  infected with disease to be slaughtered as provided in Section 58.31. A written
				  instrument, including a quarantine or written notice of an order to slaughter,
				  signed in support of this chapter has the same force and effect as if signed by
				  the entire commission.
(e) Entry
				  Power. A commissioner or a veterinarian or inspector employed by the commission
				  may enter public or private property for the exercise of an authority or
				  performance of a duty under this chapter.
(f) Requirements on dealer recordkeeping. Any
				  dealer of livestock is required by §
										RSA
				  161.049 of the Texas Agriculture Code to
				  maintain records of livestock sales. Such records shall show the buyer's and
				  seller's name and address, county of origin, number of animals, and a
				  description of each animal, including sex, age, color, breed, brand, and
				  individual identification such as eartag, bangle tag, backtag, tattoo or
				  firebrand. Records at auctions and commission firms shall show the delivery
				  vehicle license number. A dealer is required to provide records to authorized
				  agents of the commission acting under the authority of this chapter in order to
				  determine whether livestock have been exposed to or infected with a disease as
				  identified in Section
				  RSA 58.2 of this
				  chapter.