H.B. 470 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 470
By: Hochberg
Business & Industry
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 
Persons who follow the Muslim faith must observe dietary laws specifying
foods that cannot be eaten and how certain foods must be prepared. Food
that is prepared according to these laws is called "Halal", which means
"lawful" in arabic. Merchants wishing to sell food to those of the Muslim
faith often advertise that their food is Halal. 

Currently, there is no penalty for falsely advertising that food being
sold is Halal.  HB 470 would provide such a penalty, as a violation of the
Deceptive Trade Practices Act.  The bill is modeled after language in the
Deceptive Trade Practices Act for false advertising of Kosher food, which
refers to food prepared under dietary laws that are part of the Jewish
religion. 



RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution.   


ANALYSIS
HB 470 amends the Business and Commerce Code to prohibit a retailer or
restaurant owner from knowingly or intentionally labeling, advertising, or
selling food that is represented as halal and is not halal food by
providing certain penalties.   



EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2003.