BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 506

By: Watson

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that in a recent year the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) sent a cease and desist letter to Illinois Tool Works, manufacturers of certain steam cookers. The letter required the company to remove certain models of steam cookers from Texas or to modify them to comply with Texas law. The steam cookers in question report a zero incident safety record, and TDLR acknowledges that the units pose no threat to public safety. These parties report that TDLR and Illinois Tool Works have worked together to develop legislation that would exempt safe steam cookers from the regulation normally used for much larger boiler units. Concern has been raised that if current law is not changed, TDLR will be required to send cease and desist letters to other manufacturers of similar products, many of which are used in school cafeterias as an economical way to prepare food for students.  S.B. 506 seeks to address these concerns by exempting such steam cookers from certain boiler regulations.

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

S.B. 506 amends the Health and Safety Code to exempt a steam cooker, defined by the bill as a steam heating boiler that is designed to steam cook food and that is operated at and equipped with a safety appliance operated at a pressure not exceeding five pounds per square inch, from statutory provisions requiring the registration, certification, and inspection of boilers.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.