HBA-JRA H.B. 426 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 426
By: Turner, Bob
Agriculture & Livestock
3/9/1999
Committee Report (Amended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the executive director of the Texas Animal Health Commission
(commission) is not statutorily required to have a degree in veterinary
medicine.  However, the current mission of the commission is to identify,
prevent, diagnose, control, and eradicate diseases and conditions that
affect livestock, poultry, and exotic animals.  This mission gives the
position of executive director a significant scientific dimension requiring
specialized education in veterinary medicine.  H.B. 426 provides that the
executive director of the Texas Animal Health Commission must hold a degree
in veterinary medicine and a license issued by the State Board of
Veterinary Medical Examiners.  

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.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 161, Agriculture Code, by adding
Section 161.0305, to provide that the executive director of the Texas
Animal Health Commission must hold a degree in veterinary medicine and a
license issued by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.

EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

Committee Amendment #1

In SECTION 1, deletes "and a license issued by the State Board of
Veterinary Medical Examiners" from the qualifications required for the
position of executive director of the Texas Animal Health Commission under
Section 161.0305, as added by this Act.