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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the removal of a fence surrounding a breeder deer |
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release site. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 43.361, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows: |
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(c) The owner of land that is or was registered as a release |
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site with the department may remove a fence described by Subsection |
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(a) if: |
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(1) at least five years have elapsed from the most |
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recent date breeder deer were released on the site; |
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(2) the owner notifies each adjacent landowner in the |
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form and manner prescribed by the department of the owner's |
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intention to remove the fence; |
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(3) the site has not more than a trace connection to a |
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facility on which chronic wasting disease has been detected; and |
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(4) the department certifies that no deer released on |
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the site has been epidemiologically associated with a positive |
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result of a test for chronic wasting disease. |
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(d) The department may not make the certification described |
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by Subsection (c)(4) unless the department has a confidence level |
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of at least: |
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(1) 95 percent that chronic wasting disease is not |
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present at greater than five percent prevalence over a five-year |
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testing period, if: |
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(A) the release site has no connection to a |
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facility on which chronic wasting disease has been detected; |
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(B) all deer released on the site display visible |
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identification allowing for individual identification at a |
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distance; and |
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(C) the site has complied with all applicable |
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commission rules and department registration and permitting |
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requirements and has not had any violations relating to a permit |
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described by Section 12.601; or |
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(2) 99 percent that chronic wasting disease is not |
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present at greater than one percent prevalence over a five-year |
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testing period, if the release site: |
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(A) has not more than a trace connection to a |
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facility on which chronic wasting disease has been detected; and |
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(B) otherwise does not satisfy the requirements |
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of Subdivisions (1)(A)-(C). |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |