Guillen’s Deer Disease Institute Pays Breeders For Their Deer

The text as introduced · 464 words

89R1742 BEE-D

By: Guillen
H.B. No. 269

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of the Institute for Chronic Wasting

Disease Research.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 86, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 86.83 to read as follows:

Sec. 86.83. INSTITUTE FOR CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE RESEARCH.

(a) In this section:

(1) "Breeder deer," "deer," and "deer breeder" have

the meanings assigned to those terms by Section 43.351, Parks and

Wildlife Code.

(2) "Chronic wasting disease" means a transmissible

spongiform encephalopathy infecting deer and related species and

their hybrids.

(3) "Institute" means the Institute for Chronic

Wasting Disease Research.

(b) The Institute for Chronic Wasting Disease Research is a

component of Texas A&M University.

(c) The institute is under the management and direction of

the board.

(d) The institute may employ personnel.

(e) The institute may accept a gift or grant from any public

or private source for the benefit of the institute.

(f) The institute shall, in partnership with deer breeders:

(1) study the progression of chronic wasting disease;

(2) analyze the genetic profiles of deer infected with

chronic wasting disease;

(3) develop:

(A) strategies to prevent chronic wasting

disease;

(B) efforts to mitigate transmission of chronic

wasting disease; and

(C) treatments for chronic wasting disease; and

(4) evaluate the implementation of strategies,

mitigation efforts, and treatments developed under Subdivision

(3), including for breeder deer.

(g) The institute may conduct an activity described by

Subsection (f) at a location:

(1) for which a deer breeder's permit was issued, at

the deer breeder's request; or

(2) operated by the institute.

(h) A deer breeder who makes available to the institute a

breeder deer for an activity described by Subsection (f) is

entitled to compensation from the institute for:

(1) a breeder deer on which the institute directly

conducts the activity, regardless of the location of the activity;

and

(2) any breeder deer at the deer breeder's permitted

location that the breeder is prohibited from selling, transferring,

or releasing because the institute conducts an activity described

by Subsection (f) at the location.

(i) Notwithstanding any other law, a deer breeder or the

institute may transfer a breeder deer from the location for which

the deer breeder's permit was issued to the institute to conduct an

activity described by Subsection (f).

SECTION 2. The Institute for Chronic Wasting Disease

Research is required to implement a provision of this Act only if

the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose.

If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that

purpose, the institute may, but is not required to, implement a

provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that

purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.