SRC-ARR C.S.S.B. 1685 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1685
By: Bernsen
Natural Resources
4/19/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law does not regulate certain actions associated with the
oyster industry. C.S.S.B. 1685 would establish certain requirements for the
oyster industry in order to  protect the public and promote the industry. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.S.B. 1685 regulates the oyster industry. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the comptroller of public accounts in
SECTION 2 (Section 436.103(d), Health and Safety Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 431A, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section
431.006, as follows: 
 
Sec. 431.006. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAW; MOLLUSCAN SHELLFISH. Requires a
person who is subject to this chapter and who handles molluscan shellfish,
as that term is defined by Section 436.002, to comply with Section 436.105. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 436.103, Health and Safety Code, to require the
first certified shellfish dealer who handles, stores, packs, labels,
unloads at dockside, or holds oysters taken from the waters of this state
to pay the state a fee of $1 for each barrel of oysters processed by the
certified shellfish dealer (dealer). Provides that for purposes of
assessing the fee required by this section, three 100pound containers of
oysters is the equivalent of one barrel of oysters. Prohibits a dealer from
packing oysters in containers that, when packed, exceed 110 pounds in
weight. Provides that  a dealer who violates this subsection is liable for
a penalty of $5 for each container that exceeds 110 pounds. Requires a
certified shellfish dealer to pay a fee or penalty imposed by Subsection
(a) or (b) not later than the 20th, rather than the 30th day of the month
following the month in which the barrel of oysters was handled. Provides
that a dealer who fails to pay the fee or penalty in full within the
prescribed period is liable for the amount of the fee or penalty and an
additional penalty of 10 percent of the amount of the fee or penalty due.
Authorizes the Texas Department of Health (department), on certification by
the comptroller that a fee is past due, to suspend  until the fee, penalty,
or additional penalty is paid, the shellfish certificate of a certified
shellfish dealer who fails to timely pay the fee or penalty in full.
Authorizes the department on certification from the comptroller that a
certified shellfish dealer has refused to pay a fee, penalty, or additional
penalty, on written demand, to revoke the certificate of compliance of a
certified dealer who refuses to pay a fee, penalty or additional penalty.
Authorizes the comptroller to collect fees and penalties under this section
and to adopt rules, forms, and procedures for submission of fees under this
section. Requires the comptroller each month to report to the department
the fees and penalties that are submitted to the comptroller. Requires two
percent of the amount of the fees and penalties, before any other
disposition of the fees and penalties collected under this section is made,
to be deposited in the state treasury for appropriation for the use  of the
comptroller in the administration and enforcement of this section. Requires
the remainder of the fees to deposited to the credit of the oyster sales
account in the general revenue fund to be allocated each year for the
certain oyster-related activities. Provides  that Subtitles A and B,  Title
2, Tax Code, apply to the comptroller's administration, collection, and
enforcement of this section to the same extent as if the fee imposed under
this section were a tax imposed under Title 2 of the Tax Code. Deletes
existing Subsection (d) regarding rules and forms. 

SECTION 3. Amends Chapter 436H, Health and Safety Code, by adding Sections
436.104-436.108, as follows: 

Sec. 436.104. OYSTER PROGRAM. Sets forth certain requirements of the
department for the oyster program.  

Sec. 436.105. TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENTS. Sets forth certain required
temperatures for molluscan shellfish.  

Sec. 436.106. TEMPERATURE ABUSE. Prohibits the department from designating
a harvest area as a closed area unless the temperature abuse does not
appear to be the possible cause of the illness, if temperature abuse of
oysters associated with possible Vibrio parahaemolyticus illness is
identified at any point in the market chain from harvest to consumer.  

Sec. 436.107. TEXAS OYSTER COUNCIL. Creates the Texas Oyster Council
(council). Sets forth the membership of the council. Provides that the
members of the council serve one-year terms expiring August 31 of each year
and may be reappointed at the end of a term. Provides that a person is not
eligible for appointment as a consumer member of the council if the person
or the person's spouse is in the industry. Requires the council to elect a
presiding officer from among its members.  

Sec. 436.108. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE TEXAS OYSTER COUNCIL. Sets forth the
powers and duties of the council. Provides that the council is entitled to
certain information. Authorizes the council to establish procedures for
certain actions. Sets forth requirements for confidentiality. Provides that
the council is subject to Chapter 551, Government Code. Provides that the
council is not required to conduct an open meeting to deliberate
confidential communications and records provided under this section
relating to the investigation of a food-borne illness that is suspected of
being related to molluscan shellfish.  

SECTION 4. Amends Title 3, Agriculture Code, by adding Chapter 47, as
follows: 

CHAPTER 47. TEXAS OYSTER PROGRAM

Sec. 47.001.  DUTIES. Authorizes the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)
to take certain actions regarding the promotion and advertisement of the
Texas Oyster Industry. Authorizes TDA, in consultation  with the  advisory
committee appointed under Section 47.002, to use money appropriated to the
department to implement this chapter for administration expenses related to
this chapter.  

Sec. 47.002. OYSTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE. Requires the commissioner of
agriculture to appoint an Oyster Advisory Committee (advisory committee) to
provide guidance and direction on the programs and activities established
under this chapter and expenditures of the money appropriated for this
chapter. Prohibits members of the advisory committee from receiving
compensation for service on the committee and from being reimbursed for
expenses incurred while conducting the business of the advisory committee.
Sets forth the members of the advisory committee. Requires the advisory
committee to meet and elect a presiding officer from among its members and
to adopt bylaws for the conduct of its activities. Requires the bylaws to
provide that five members constitute a quorum sufficient to conduct
meetings and business of the advisory committee. Sets forth the terms of
the advisory committee members. Authorizes a member to be reappointed.  

SECTION 5. Amends Chapter 87C, Education Code, by adding Section 87.207, as
follows: 

 Sec. 87.207. MOLLUSCAN SHELLFISH PROGRAMS. Authorizes the marine biology
department of Texas A&M University at Galveston to take certain actions.  

SECTION 6. Requires the commissioner of agriculture to appoint certain
members by certain dates, in making the initial appointments of the Oyster
Advisory Committee members under Section 47.002, Agriculture Code, as added
by this Act.  

SECTION 7. Emergency clause.
                      Effective date: upon passage.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1. 

Deletes proposed SECTION 1 regarding definitions. Adds Section 431.006,
Health and Safety Code, to require a person who is subject to this chapter
and who handles molluscan shellfish, as that term is defined by Section
436.002, to comply with Section 436.105. 

SECTION 2. 

Deletes proposed changes to Section 81.046, Health and Safety Code,
regarding confidentiality.  

Deletes proposed SECTION 3 amending Section 431.002, Health and Safety
Code, regarding definitions and proposed changes to Section 431.005, Health
and Safety Code, regarding provisions of the sale of food, drugs devices,
or cosmetics.    

Amends Section 436.103, Health and Safety Code, regarding certain fees and
penalties. Deletes text regarding dealers who pack oyster sacks exceeding
110 pounds. Deletes text requiring penalties to be payable under the same
terms established in this section for payment of fees.  

SECTION 3. 

Amends Chapter 436H, Health and Safety Code, by adding Sections
436.104-436.108, regarding the oyster program, temperature requirements,
temperature abuse, Texas oyster council, and powers and duties of the Texas
oyster council.  

SECTION 4. 

Amends Title 3, Agriculture Code, by adding Chapter 47, regarding the Texas
Oyster program. Amends Section 47.001, Agriculture Code, to set forth
certain duties. Amends Section 47.002, Agriculture Code, to set forth the
oyster advisory committee.  

SECTION 5. 

Amends Chapter 87C, Education Code, by adding Section 87.207, to authorize
the marine biology department of Texas A&M University at Galveston to take
certain actions.  

SECTION 6.

Adds new SECTION 6 to require the commissioner of agriculture to appoint
certain members by certain dates, in making the initial appointments of the
Oyster Advisory Committee members under Section 47.002, Agriculture Code,
as added by this Act.  

SECTION 7. 

 Redesignated from SECTION 9.