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.