The commission may order animal owners, part owners, or caretakers to treat the animals as directed, and the order must be written, dated, signed or stamped, and delivered at least 12 days before the first treatment date.
Sec. 167.052. ORDER TO TREAT. (a) The commission may order the owner, part owner, or caretaker of animals to treat the animals in accordance with the directions of the commission. The order must be dated, in writing, and signed or stamped with the signature of the commission or the presiding officer of the commission. (b) An order to treat must: (1) state the period of time covered by the order; (2) describe the premises on which the animals to be treated are located; (3) state that the person to whom the order is directed shall treat all animals of which the person is the owner, part owner, or caretaker and which are located on those premises during that time; (4) state that the treatment must be done under the supervision of an inspector; (5) designate the method by which the animals are to be treated; (6) state the dates on which the animals are to be treated; and (7) state that if the person does not treat the animals on those dates, the treatment will be done at the person's expense by a peace officer acting in accordance with this chapter. (c) The order is not required to describe the premises on which the animals are located by field notes or metes and bounds, but must provide a reasonable description sufficient to inform the person to whom it is directed of the premises or land covered by the order. (d) An order may require the treatment of the animals on as many dates as the commission considers necessary for eradicating the infestation or exposure of the animals or the premises on which the animals are located. (e) An order to treat must be delivered to the person to whom it is directed not later than the 12th day before the date specified in the order for the first treatment, not including the date of delivery or the date of the first treatment. (f) A person to whom an order to treat is directed shall comply with the order and treat the animals in accordance with the directions of the commission. If the order is not delivered within the time provided by Subsection (e), the person receiving the order shall begin treatment on the first treatment date that is more than 12 days after the date of receipt of the order and shall continue treatment on subsequent dates as specified in the order. (g) If the animals or the premises are not freed from ticks or exposure to ticks before an order to treat expires, the commission may issue additional orders regardless of whether the animals were exposed to ticks in the nine months preceding the date of the subsequent order. Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1442, ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 554, Sec. 32, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by: Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (H.B. 1807), Sec. 16, eff. September 1, 2013. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 773 (S.B. 1095), Sec. 16, eff. September 1, 2013.