HBA-CBW, BSM H.B. 1391 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1391 By: Keffer Agriculture & Livestock 3/13/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Texas is one of a few states that outlaw the sale of horse meat in stores, restaurants, and cafes. The state's ban was enacted in 1930 and was aimed at stopping people from adulterating ground beef with ground horse. The law, which prescribes penalties of up to two years in jail, ensures that Texas horse meat plants are strictly export-oriented. In recent years, there has been an increase in the practice of slaughtering horses for consumption. The horse-slaughtering industry is distinct from the rendering business, which turns horse carcasses into products such as paint thinner, soap, or pet food. Many anti-slaughter advocates say they are not opposed to rendering, because the animals are put down painlessly, usually with a shot of sodium pentobarbital. Since meat from animals killed in this fashion is unfit for human consumption, the horse-slaughtering business employs traditional slaughtering methods. Many people regard their horses as family pets and sometimes, for various reasons, have to part with them. The most common place to take these horses are small town livestock markets. Many people are unaware that the horses are being sold to buyers who take them to slaughter plants that export the meat for human consumption. Currently, owners and operators of livestock markets in Texas do not have to inform equine owners that the animal could be sold for slaughter. House Bill 1391 requires the owner or operator of a livestock market to inform any person who sells an equine animal directly or on consignment at the market that the animal may be bought for slaughter or human consumption. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the Department of Agriculture in SECTION 1 (Section.146.009, Agriculture Code) of this bill. ANALYSIS House Bill 1391 amends the Agriculture Code to require the owner or operator of a livestock market to require any person who sells an equine animal at the market to sign an acknowledgment form stating that an equine animal sold at the market may be bought for slaughter or for human consumption. The bill also requires the owner or operator of a livestock market to display a sign in a prominent place in the market giving notice that an equine animal sold at the market may be bought for slaughter or for human consumption. The bill sets forth provisions regarding the design and display of the sign. The Department of Agriculture is authorized by rule to prescribe the design or wording of the sign. A violation of these provisions is a Class C misdemeanor. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.