By: Perry, Kolkhorst, Miles  S.B. No. 721          (In the Senate - Filed February 2, 2017; February 21, 2017,   read first time and referred to Committee on Agriculture, Water &   Rural Affairs; March 14, 2017, reported favorably by the following   vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0; March 14, 2017, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to treatment and care provided by licensed medical   professionals to animals in certain facilities.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 801.004, Occupations Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 801.004.  APPLICATION OF CHAPTER.  This chapter does   not apply to:                (1)  the treatment or care of an animal in any manner by   the owner of the animal, an employee of the owner, or a designated   caretaker of the animal, unless the ownership, employment, or   designation is established with the intent to violate this chapter;                (2)  a person who performs an act prescribed by the   board as an accepted livestock management practice, including:                      (A)  castrating a male animal raised for human   consumption;                      (B)  docking or earmarking an animal raised for   human consumption;                      (C)  dehorning cattle;                      (D)  aiding in the nonsurgical birth process of a   large animal, as defined by board rule;                      (E)  treating an animal for disease prevention   with a nonprescription medicine or vaccine;                      (F)  branding or identifying an animal in any   manner;                      (G)  artificially inseminating an animal,   including training, inseminating, and compensating for services   related to artificial insemination; and                      (H)  shoeing a horse;                (3)  the performance of a cosmetic or production   technique to reduce injury in poultry intended for human   consumption;                (4)  the performance of a duty by a veterinarian's   employee if:                      (A)  the duty involves food production animals;                      (B)  the duty does not involve diagnosis,   prescription, or surgery;                      (C)  the employee is under the direction and   general supervision of the veterinarian; and                      (D)  the veterinarian is responsible for the   employee's performance;                (5)  the performance of an act by a person who is a   full-time student of an accredited college of veterinary medicine   if the act is performed under the direct supervision of a   veterinarian;                (6)  an animal shelter employee who performs euthanasia   in the course and scope of the person's employment if the person has   successfully completed training in accordance with Chapter 829,   Health and Safety Code;                (7)  a person who is engaged in a recognized   state-federal cooperative disease eradication or control program   or an external parasite control program while the person is   performing official duties required by the program;                (8)  a person who, without expectation of compensation,   provides emergency care in an emergency or disaster; [or]                (9)  a consultation given to a veterinarian in this   state by a person who:                      (A)  resides in another state; and                      (B)  is lawfully qualified to practice veterinary   medicine under the laws of that state; or                (10)  a licensed health care professional who, without   expectation of compensation and under the direct supervision of a   veterinarian, provides treatment or care to an animal owned by or in   the possession, control, or custody of an entity accredited by the   Association of Zoos and Aquariums.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2017.     * * * * *