Sec. 828.014. ANIMAL FRIENDLY ACCOUNT

(a) The Texas Department of Health animal friendly account is a separate account in the general revenue fund. The account is composed of:

(1) money deposited to the credit of the account under Section 502.291, Transportation Code; and

(2) gifts, grants, donations, and legislative appropriations.

(b) The Texas Department of Health administers the account. The department may spend money credited to the account only to:

(1) make grants to eligible organizations that sterilize animals owned by the general public at minimal or no cost; and

(2) defray the cost of administering the account.

(c) The Texas Board of Health:

(1) may accept gifts, donations, and grants from any source for the benefit of the account; and

(2) by rule shall establish guidelines for spending money credited to the account.

(d) In this section "eligible organization" means:

(1) a releasing agency;

(2) an organization that is qualified as a charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code, that has as its primary purpose:

(A) animal welfare; or

(B) sterilizing animals owned by the general public at minimal or no cost; or

(3) a local nonprofit veterinary medical association that has an established program for sterilizing animals owned by the general public at minimal or no cost.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 657, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1292, Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 2001.