By: A. Johnson of Harris	H.B. No. 3439

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to veterinary services performed on certain animals in
	the care of a releasing agency.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 828.012, Health and Safety Code, is
	amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to
	read as follows:
	(b)  A veterinarian employed by a releasing agency may not
	perform nonemergency veterinary services other than sterilization
	on an animal that the releasing agency knows or should know has an
	owner. However, this subsection does not prevent a veterinarian
	employed by a releasing agency from performing veterinary services
	on an animal whose owner:
	(1)  is an individual or family whose income is:
	(A)  not more than 50 percent of the median income
	for the area in which the individual or family lives as determined
	using a source or methodology accepted under federal law or rule; or
	(B)  less than the federal poverty level for the
	relevant household size; and
	(2)  submits to the releasing agency evidence to
	establish the owner qualifies as an individual or family described
	by Subdivision (1) [is indigent].
	(b-1)  If a veterinarian employed by a releasing agency
	performs veterinary services on an animal whose owner qualifies as
	an individual or family described by Subsection (b)(1), the agency
	shall:
	(1)  maintain the evidence the owner submits to the
	agency under Subsection (b)(2); and
	(2)  on request of the State Board of Veterinary
	Medical Examiners, make the evidence available to the board for
	inspection.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Health and Safety Code 828.012 (Health and Safety Code 828)
House Committee Report: Health and Safety Code 828.012 (Health and Safety Code 828)
Engrossed: Health and Safety Code 828.012 (Health and Safety Code 828)