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.