Relating to the creation of a statewide Chronic Wasting Disease plan.

SB 2649 directs Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences to evaluate how Texas Parks and Wildlife and Texas Animal Health Commission manage Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in deer, comparing their efforts to other states and national standards. The college must then create a statewide CWD management plan based on these comparisons, which the two state agencies must implement. Texas A&M will monitor implementation and submit annual reports to the legislature and Sunset Commission before each session. The bill directly affects Texas Parks and Wildlife and Texas Animal Health Commission, as they are required to adopt and follow the statewide plan for managing CWD in the state’s deer population.