HBA-DMD H.B. 2113 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2113
By: Bonnen
County Affairs
3/28/1999
Introduced


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, commissioners courts of a county are not allowed to
regulate the keeping of greyhounds that are primarily used for breeding,
racing, or training, and that reside in an unincorporated area of a county.
H.B. 2113 authorizes the commissioners court of a county by order to
regulate the keeping of a greyhound in the county provided that the
greyhound is primarily kept for breeding, racing, or training. This bill
authorizes the commissioners court of a county to establish a fee, to be
deposited in the county treasury, for each greyhound subject to regulation.
It also establishes a penalty for the violation of rules adopted by a
commissioners court pertaining to the regulation of greyhounds. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Chapter 240, Local Government Code, by adding Subchapter E, as
follows: 

SUBCHAPTER E.  REGULATION OF GREYHOUND 
BREEDING AND TRAINING

Sec. 240.091. APPLICABILITY. Sets forth that this chapter applies only in
the unincorporated area of a county provided that the county has a
greyhound racetrack operating within the county, or is adjacent to a county
in which a greyhound racetrack is operating.  

Sec. 240.092. REGULATION. Defines "greyhound" in this chapter. Authorizes
the commissioners court of a county by order to regulate the keeping of a
greyhound in the county provided that the greyhound is primarily kept for
breeding, racing, or training. Sets forth that a regulation under this
section does not apply to the kenneling of greyhounds at a greyhound
racetrack.  

Sec. 240.093. FEES. Authorizes the commissioners court of a county to
establish a fee for each greyhound subject to regulation under this
subchapter in order to recover the costs associated with that regulation
and to collect the fee only from a person who keeps a greyhound. Requires
the county to deposit fees collected in the county treasury, and authorizes
for the money to be used only for the administration of this subchapter.  

Sec. 240.094. OFFENSE. Provides that a person commits a Class C Misdemeanor
offense if the person violates an order adopted under this subchapter.  

Sec. 240.095. INJUNCTION. Authorizes an attorney representing the county to
file an action in a district court enjoining a violation or a threatened
violation of an order adopted under this subchapter.  

SECTION 2.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.