85R22940 SLB-F     By: Paddie, Herrero, Larson, Kuempel, et al. H.B. No. 2855     Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2855:     By:  Martinez C.S.H.B. No. 2855       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the identification of breeder deer by use of microchip   implants.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 43.3561, Parks and Wildlife Code, is   amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1) and   (a-2) to read as follows:          (a)  Not later than March 31 of the year following the year in   which a [the] breeder deer is born, the [a] breeder deer held in a   permitted deer breeding facility must be identified by:                (1)  placing on each breeder deer possessed by the deer   breeder a single, reasonably visible, durable identification tag   bearing an alphanumeric number of not more than four characters   assigned by the department to the breeding facility in which the   breeder deer was born and unique to that breeder deer; or                (2)  implanting in the breeder deer a microchip that is   recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture for the   identification of animals.          (a-1)  A deer breeder is not required to remove the durable   identification tag or microchip for any purpose but may remove the   tag or microchip and replace the tag or microchip immediately to   meet the requirements of this section.          (a-2)  A deer breeder that uses a microchip for the   identification of breeder deer shall make available a microchip   reader for use by personnel of the department and the Texas Animal   Health Commission.          SECTION 2.  Sections 43.357(a-1) and (b), Parks and Wildlife   Code, are amended to read as follows:          (a-1)  A deer breeder, a deer breeder's authorized agent, or   an assistant who is not a permittee under this subchapter but is   acting under the direction of a deer breeder or a deer breeder's   authorized agent may capture a breeder deer held in a permitted   facility for:                (1)  removal from an enclosure;                (2)  veterinary treatment;                (3)  tagging or implanting a microchip;                (4)  euthanasia for the purpose of:                      (A)  humane dispatch of the breeder deer; or                      (B)  the conduct of a test for a reportable   disease as required by law; or                (5)  any other purpose required or allowed by law.          (b)  The commission may make regulations governing:                (1)  the possession of breeder deer held under the   authority of this subchapter;                (2)  the recapture of lawfully possessed breeder deer   that have escaped from the facility of a deer breeder;                (3)  permit applications and fees;                (4)  reporting requirements;                (5)  procedures and requirements for the purchase,   transfer, sale, or shipment of breeder deer;                (6)  the endorsement of a deer breeder facility by a   certified wildlife biologist;                (7)  the number of breeder deer that a deer breeder may   possess; [and]                (8)  the dates for which a deer breeder permit is valid;   and                (9)  the use of microchip implants for identifying   breeder deer under this section.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.