Flores Adoption Bill Lets The Lab’s Own Vet Exempt Any Animal

The text as introduced · 530 words

89R2365 MCF-D

By: Flores
H.B. No. 662

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the adoption of cats and dogs previously used for

research.

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

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the Research Animal

Retirement Act.

SECTION 2. Title 10, Health and Safety Code, is amended by

adding Chapter 830 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 830. ADOPTION OF CERTAIN RETIRED RESEARCH ANIMALS

Sec. 830.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Animal rehoming organization" means a nonprofit

charitable organization established primarily to place rescued

animals in adoptive homes.

(2) "Animal shelter" means a facility operated by a

nonprofit charitable organization established primarily to shelter

and care for stray, homeless, abandoned, or unwanted animals and

place those animals in adoptive homes.

(3) "Executive commissioner" means the executive

commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.

(4) "Research facility" means a research facility as

defined by the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. Section 2132(e)) that is

licensed by or registered with the United States Department of

Agriculture under that Act to conduct experiments on dogs or cats

for education, research, science, or testing purposes.

(5) "Retired animal" means a dog or cat a research

facility previously used in experiments conducted for education,

research, science, or testing purposes and no longer needed for

those purposes.

Sec. 830.002. LIMITATION. This chapter does not apply to a

retired animal a research facility's attending veterinarian

identifies as:

(1) not suitable for rehoming; or

(2) having a substantial medical condition that

prevents the animal from successfully integrating into an adoptive

home.

Sec. 830.003. ADOPTION OF RETIRED ANIMALS. (a) A research

facility, or its authorized employee or an authorized student of an

institution of higher education associated with the facility, on

retirement of a retired animal shall offer the animal for adoption:

(1) through an animal rehoming organization or animal

shelter; or

(2) by an individual through an arrangement between

the facility and individual.

(b) A research facility may not offer any retired animal to

an animal rehoming organization or animal shelter unless the

facility has entered into a written agreement with the organization

or shelter addressing the transfer of the facility's retired

animals to the organization or shelter.

(c) A research facility may establish guidelines for

determining whether:

(1) a retired animal is suitable for adoption; and

(2) an animal rehoming organization, animal shelter,

or individual is qualified to accept a retired animal for adoption.

(d) A research facility must post on the facility's Internet

website any guidelines adopted under Subsection (c).

Sec. 830.004. IMMUNITY FROM CIVIL LIABILITY. A research

facility that in good faith and in compliance with this chapter and

rules adopted under this chapter provides a research animal to an

animal rehoming organization, animal shelter, or individual is

immune from civil liability with respect to a claim based on:

(1) the facility's transfer of a retired animal to the

organization, shelter, or individual; or

(2) the adoption of a retired animal by an individual

through the organization or shelter.

Sec. 830.005. RULES. The executive commissioner may adopt

rules necessary to implement this chapter.

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