1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to testing of certain equine animals for equine infectious
 1-3     anemia; providing a criminal penalty.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter H, Chapter 161, Agriculture Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 161.149 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 161.149.  TEST FOR EQUINE INFECTIOUS ANEMIA.  (a)  In
 1-8     this section, "equine animal" includes horses, mules, asses,
 1-9     ponies, and other members of the horse family, but does not include
1-10     zebras.
1-11           (b)  A person commits an offense if the person transfers
1-12     ownership of an equine animal eight months of age or older that has
1-13     not tested negative for equine infectious anemia during the 12
1-14     months preceding the date of the transfer unless the equine animal:
1-15                 (1)  is a nursing foal that is transferred with its dam
1-16     and the dam has tested negative for equine infectious anemia during
1-17     the 12 months preceding the date of the transfer; or
1-18                 (2)  is sold to slaughter to be tested for equine
1-19     infectious anemia at a slaughter establishment.
1-20           (c)  An offense under Subsection (b) is a Class C misdemeanor
1-21     unless it is shown on the trial of the offense that the defendant
1-22     has been previously convicted under this section, in which event
1-23     the offense is a Class B misdemeanor.
1-24           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
 2-1           SECTION 3.  (a)  The changes in law made by this Act apply
 2-2     only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this
 2-3     Act.  For purposes of this Act, an offense is committed before the
 2-4     effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs
 2-5     before that date.
 2-6           (b)  An offense committed before the effective date of this
 2-7     Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed,
 2-8     and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
 2-9           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-10     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-11     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-12     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-13     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 1732 was passed by the House on April
         13, 1999, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 1732 was passed by the Senate on May
         13, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor