SB97 - Relating to the assessment, destruction, and release of certain deer.

  89R3750 BEE-F     By: Hall S.B. No. 97       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the assessment, destruction, and release of certain   deer.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter L, Chapter 43, Parks and Wildlife   Code, is amended by adding Section 43.3635 to read as follows:           Sec.   43.3635.     RELEASE OF BREEDER DEER AFTER NEGATIVE TEST   RESULT. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a   breeder deer for which a negative test result is obtained during an   epidemiological assessment conducted under Section 43.953(a) may   be released onto a release site in accordance with Section 43.361 at   any time on or before the 14th day after the date of the negative   test result.          SECTION 2.  Section 43.953(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  Before any deer may be destroyed under this subchapter:                (1)  an agent of the animal health commission :                       (A)  shall [ may ] conduct an epidemiological   assessment of the deer considered for destruction; and                       (B)     must obtain a positive test result from the   deer using the least intrusive test feasible, provided that the   test:                             (i)     may not be performed on tonsillar   tissue; and                             (ii)     must be conducted at the site where the   deer would be destroyed [ :                      [ (A)     if the assessment can be conducted in a   timely manner; and                      [ (B)  contingent on the availability of funding ];   and                (2)  the department must consider the results of the     [ an ] assessment[ , if ] conducted[ , ] under Subdivision (1).          SECTION 3.  Section 43.954(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  A notice provided under this section must be sent by   certified mail to the last known address of the permit holder and   must contain:                (1)  the date of destruction, which may not be sooner   than the 10th day after the date of the notice;                (2)  an explanation of any access restrictions imposed   on the facility or acreage covered by the permit during the   destruction of the deer; and                (3)  an explanation of the reasons for the destruction,   including the results of the [ any ] epidemiological assessment   conducted under Section 43.953(a) applicable to the deer that are   the subject of the notice.          SECTION 4.  As soon as practicable after the effective date   of this Act, the Parks and Wildlife Commission shall adopt or amend   rules as necessary to comply with the changes in law made by this   Act.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.