Amend HB 1444 as follows: (1) On page 8, line 23, insert the following after Section 7 of the bill and renumber the subsequent sections appropriately: Section 8. Chapter 121, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Subchapter G to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER G. CERTIFICATION OF FOOD MANAGERS BY PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITIES. Sec. 121.101. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Board" means the Texas Board of Health. (2) "Department" means the Texas Department of Health. (3) "Food establishment" means a fixed or mobile location retail establishment where food is prepared on-site for sale to the public. (4) "Food manager" means the individual who conducts, manages, or operates a food establishment. Sec. 121.102. CERTIFICATION. (a) The board, a local county or municipal health department or public health district may require a person permitted by that entity who owns, conducts, maintains, manages, or operates a food establishment in the entity's jurisdiction to employ a food manager who holds a food manager certificate issued under this subchapter. (b) A food establishment that handles only prepackaged non-potentially hazardous food is exempt from the requirements of this section. The board may adopt rules to exempt other establishments under this subsection as is appropriate. Sec. 121.103. QUALIFICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATION. (a) A person may receive certification and re-certification as a food manager by passage of a state-accredited examination. (b) The board by rule shall prescribe the requirements for issuance and renewal of a certificate under this subchapter. The board shall adopt criteria to approve examinations that are developed by federal, state, or local government agencies, national testing organizations or trade associations of permittees. Examinations approved by the department before the effective date of this legislation shall be considered to meet the examination criteria. (c) Food manager certification and re-certification obtained under this section shall be accepted as having met the training and testing requirements under Section 438.046(b) of this Code. (d) The board by rule shall establish an implementation schedule for certification under this subchapter. Testing sites and frequency of testing shall be established so as to avoid inconvenience or hardship to food managers. In administering this subchapter the board shall consider the impact of the distance traveled and the time expended by a food manager in obtaining certification. The board shall give particular consideration to mitigating the impact of this subchapter on food managers in rural areas. Sec. 121.104. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The board may adopt a fee not to exceed thirty dollars for a three year certification under this subchapter and such fee shall not exceed the amount necessary to administer this subchapter. (b) The board may adopt rules for the denial, suspension, and revocation of a food manager certificate issued under this subchapter. (c) The board by rule may prescribe standards for examination sites, fees for site costs and site audits for administration of this subchapter.