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AN ACT
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relating to the safety of the fresh fruit and vegetables produced in |
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this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The legislature finds that: |
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(1) the agricultural industry is a vital part of this |
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state's economy, annually contributing $103 billion, or 9.2 percent |
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of the gross state product, and is the state's second largest |
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resource-based industry, with one in seven Texans being employed in |
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some segment of the agricultural industry; |
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(2) food safety must be a top state priority because an |
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accidental or deliberate contamination of food or crops could be |
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detrimental to the state's economy and would undermine consumer |
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confidence in the integrity of food safety in this state; |
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(3) the growing and processing of fresh fruits and |
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vegetables is crucial to this state, and since September 11, 2001, |
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awareness of the threat of contamination of those products has |
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increased; and |
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(4) this state should increase awareness of food |
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safety among its growers and packers of fresh fruits and vegetables |
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to avoid disastrous events. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 91, Agriculture Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 91.009 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 91.009. COORDINATION OF FOOD SAFETY. (a) The |
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department is the lead agency for education and training and shall |
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assist the fresh fruit and vegetable industries with food safety |
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issues and may provide assistance to federal agencies in their |
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implementation of voluntary guidelines relating to sound |
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agricultural practices. |
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(b) The department shall coordinate, plan, and approve |
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training and awareness programs for producers and packers of fresh |
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fruits and vegetables. A program under this subsection must inform |
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and educate producers and packers regarding: |
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(1) sound agricultural practices; |
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(2) proper food handling procedures; |
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(3) the prevention of accidental or deliberately |
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planned outbreaks of disease; and |
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(4) the enhancement of overall food safety. |
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(c) The department shall coordinate the planning and |
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implementation of programs required by Subsection (b) with: |
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(1) colleges and universities in this state; |
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(2) the Texas AgriLife Extension Service; |
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(3) Texas AgriLife Research; |
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(4) the Department of State Health Services; and |
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(5) private industry. |
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(d) The department may adopt rules to implement this |
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section. In the development of rules for the certification of |
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approved food safety curriculum or training, the department shall |
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consult and coordinate with the Department of State Health |
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Services. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 1908 was passed by the House on April |
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9, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, 1 present, not |
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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No. 1908 on May 14, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, |
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1 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 1908 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 12, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays |
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0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |