| TO: | Honorable John Carona, Chair, Senate Committee on Business & Commerce |
| FROM: | Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB1359 by Rodríguez (Relating to a prohibition of foods containing trans fat.), As Introduced |
The bill would add a new section to Chapter 437 of the Health and Safety Code, related to a prohibition of foods containing trans fat. The bill would require certain food service establishments to maintain labels of any food or food additive that contains any type of trans fat and to make the labels available during health inspections by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) or local authorities. These provisions of the bill would take effect September 1, 2013.
In addition, food service establishments would be prohibited from using trans fat in a food or to prepare a food unless certain conditions are met. Food service establishments meeting certain criteria would be exempt from this prohibition until August 31, 2015. Food service establishments that contract with a food manufacturer or distributor would be exempt until either the date the contract expires or August 31, 2015, whichever date is later. This section related to the prohibition of using food with trans fat would take effect September 1, 2014.
It is expected that costs associated with implementing the bill, including increased time conducting health inspections, would not be significant and would be absorbed by DSHS. The agency has estimated that the bill would generate additional General Revenue, but it is assumed to be insignificant.
| Source Agencies: | 360 State Office of Administrative Hearings, 537 State Health Services, Department of
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| LBB Staff: | UP, RB, JTe, NB
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