RE 01-24-95.1 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS
RESOLUTION NO. 012495.1
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COPPELL,
TEXAS, URGING THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE TO SEEK INTRODUCTION AND
PASSAGE OF A BILL WHICH WILL PROVIDE FOR THE DISCLOSURE OF
VETERINARIAN RECORDS, PERTAINING TO RABIES CONTROL, TO THE TEXAS
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES; AUTHORIZING ITS
EXECUTION BY THE MAYOR; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, rabies in animals continues to be a significant
health threat in the State of Texas, as evidenced by the state
health emergency declared by Governor Richards in July 1994 due to
an increase of rabies in South and West Central Texas; and
WHERE~S, in 1993 the Texas legislature enacted an amendment to
the Veterinary Licensing Act, VCS Article 8890, which states that
a veterinarian may not violate the confidential relationship
between the veterinarian and a client and may not be required to
disclose any information concerning the veterinarian's care for an
animal except on written authorization or another form of waiver
executed by the client or on receipt by the veterinarian of an
appropriate court order or subpoena: and
WHERE~S, municipalities rely upon rabies vaccination records
maintained by veterinarians in order to combat rabies, which
includes controlling animal populations and licensing dogs and cats
within their jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, the above cited amendment to the veterinary Licensing
Act may preclude municipal health departments, county health
departments, and the Texas Department of Health from obtaining from
veterinarian rabies vaccine records, rabies vaccination records,
records of the treatment and quarantine of animals involved in
bites or those suspected of being rabid, and other records vital to
zoonosis control; and
WHEREAS, revenues generated by dog and cat licensing programs
contribute significantly to the budgets of municipal animal control
programs, which might face severe cutbacks if licensing revenues
fall due to the inability of the municipal health departments to
obtain rabies vaccination records from veterinarians; and
WHEREAS, it is recognized that the confidential relationship
between a veterinarian and his clients should not be interfered
with unnecessarily, and that provision should be made to protect
veterinarian records which come into the possession of state and
local health departments;
NOW THEREFORE~ BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF COPPELL, TEXAS, THAT:
1. The Texas Municipal League is urged to seek introduction
and passage of a bill which will provide for the
disclosure by veterinarians to the Texas Department of
Health and local health authorities of information and
records relating to: zoonosls control, rabies vaccine,
rabies vaccinations, and the treatment and quarantine of
animals which have inflicted bites or scratches on humans
or which are subjected of being rabid; and which will
further provide that such records, when in the possession
of the state and the local health departments are
protected from public disclosure except in limited
circumstances.
DULY P~SSED AND APPROVED by the City ~o~ncil of the city of
Coppell, Texas, on the ~! day of j'!~<9~c<~/ , 1995.
APPROVED:
MORTON, MAYOR
ATTEST:
LI~A G~U, CITY ~ECRETARY
APPROVED AS TO FO~:
· ~SMI/fH, CITY ATTORNEY