84R7153 LED-F
 
  By: Larson H.B. No. 1274
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the medical treatment and care of animals by certain
  persons in animal shelters and releasing agencies.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Chapter 823, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 823. ANIMAL SHELTERS AND RELEASING AGENCIES
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 823, Health and Safety Code, is amended
  by designating Sections 823.001 through 823.009 as Subchapter A and
  adding a subchapter heading to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER A.  GENERAL PROVISIONS; ANIMAL SHELTERS
         SECTION 3.  Section 823.001, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Subdivision (5) to read as follows:
               (5)  "Releasing agency" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 828.001.
         SECTION 4.  Chapter 823, Health and Safety Code, is amended
  by adding Subchapter B to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER B.  TREATMENT AND CARE OF ANIMALS
         Sec. 823.051.  ANIMAL TREATMENT PROTOCOL. At the time an
  animal shelter or releasing agency takes possession of an animal,
  an agent for the shelter or agency may administer a nonprescription
  vaccine, nonprescription medicine, or medicine that is not a
  controlled substance if:
               (1)  the medicine is necessary to prevent or control
  communicable diseases or internal or external parasites; and
               (2)  the medicine is administered in accordance with a
  protocol developed under Section 801.366, Occupations Code.
         SECTION 5.  Section 828.012(a), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Surgery or nonsurgical sterilization performed in
  accordance with this chapter must also be performed in accordance
  with Section 801.365 [by a veterinarian or a full-time student of an
  accredited college of veterinary medicine as provided by Chapter
  801], Occupations Code.
         SECTION 6.  Subchapter A, Chapter 801, Occupations Code, is
  amended by amending Section 801.004 and adding Section 801.005 to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 801.004.  APPLICATION OF CHAPTER. Except as provided
  by Section 801.005, this [This] chapter does not apply to:
               (1)  the treatment or care of an animal in any manner by
  the owner of the animal, an employee of the owner, or a designated
  caretaker of the animal, unless the ownership, employment, or
  designation is established with the intent to violate this chapter;
               (2)  a person who performs an act prescribed by the
  board as an accepted livestock management practice, including:
                     (A)  castrating a male animal raised for human
  consumption;
                     (B)  docking or earmarking an animal raised for
  human consumption;
                     (C)  dehorning cattle;
                     (D)  aiding in the nonsurgical birth process of a
  large animal, as defined by board rule;
                     (E)  treating an animal for disease prevention
  with a nonprescription medicine or vaccine;
                     (F)  branding or identifying an animal in any
  manner;
                     (G)  artificially inseminating an animal,
  including training, inseminating, and compensating for services
  related to artificial insemination; and
                     (H)  shoeing a horse;
               (3)  the performance of a cosmetic or production
  technique to reduce injury in poultry intended for human
  consumption;
               (4)  the performance of a duty by a veterinarian's
  employee if:
                     (A)  the duty involves food production animals;
                     (B)  the duty does not involve diagnosis,
  prescription, or surgery;
                     (C)  the employee is under the direction and
  general supervision of the veterinarian; and
                     (D)  the veterinarian is responsible for the
  employee's performance;
               (5)  the performance of an act by a person who is a
  full-time student of an accredited college of veterinary medicine
  if the act is performed under the direct supervision of a
  veterinarian;
               (6)  an animal shelter employee who performs euthanasia
  in the course and scope of the person's employment if the person has
  successfully completed training in accordance with Chapter 829,
  Health and Safety Code;
               (7)  a person who is engaged in a recognized
  state-federal cooperative disease eradication or control program
  or an external parasite control program while the person is
  performing official duties required by the program;
               (8)  a person who, without expectation of compensation,
  provides emergency care in an emergency or disaster; or
               (9)  a consultation given to a veterinarian in this
  state by a person who:
                     (A)  resides in another state; and
                     (B)  is lawfully qualified to practice veterinary
  medicine under the laws of that state.
         Sec. 801.005.  TREATMENT OF ANIMAL IN ANIMAL SHELTER OR
  RELEASING AGENCY. This chapter applies to a veterinarian when
  treating an animal on behalf of or in:
               (1)  an animal shelter, as defined by Section 823.001,
  Health and Safety Code; or
               (2)  a releasing agency, as defined by Section 828.001,
  Health and Safety Code.
         SECTION 7.  Subchapter H, Chapter 801, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 801.365 and 801.366 to read as follows:
         Sec. 801.365.  STERILIZATION. Surgery or nonsurgical
  sterilization performed in accordance with Chapter 828, Health and
  Safety Code, must be performed by a veterinarian or a person who is
  a full-time student of an accredited college of veterinary
  medicine.
         Sec. 801.366.  ANIMAL SHELTER OR RELEASING AGENCY TREATMENT
  PROTOCOL. (a) A veterinarian who makes medically appropriate and
  timely visits to an animal shelter or releasing agency may, in
  consultation with the animal shelter or releasing agency, develop a
  written animal treatment protocol to authorize an agent of the
  animal shelter or releasing agency to administer a nonprescription
  vaccine, nonprescription medicine, or medicine that is not a
  controlled substance as necessary to prevent or control
  communicable diseases or internal or external parasites.
         (b)  A written animal treatment protocol developed under
  Subsection (a) must meet the minimum acceptable standard of care
  for the administration of a nonprescription vaccine,
  nonprescription medicine, or medicine that is not a controlled
  substance used to prevent or control communicable diseases or
  internal or external parasites.
         (c)  A veterinarian who develops a written animal treatment
  protocol under this section does not violate Section 801.351.
         (d)  In this section:
               (1)  "Animal shelter" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 823.001, Health and Safety Code; and
               (2)  "Releasing agency" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 828.001, Health and Safety Code.
         SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.