HB 196 — The adoption of dogs

90R4082 EG-D By: Flores H.B. No. 196 relating to the adoption of dogs and cats previously used for research.

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 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 that a research facility's attending veterinarian determines is: (1) unsuitable for rehoming; or (2) medically unsuitable for rehoming due to a substantial condition that prevents 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, 2027.