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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to exemptions from certain regulation for small honey |
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production operations. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 437.001, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Subdivisions (1-a) and (7) to read as follows: |
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(1-a) "Beekeeper" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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131.001, Agriculture Code. |
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(7) "Small honey production operation" means a |
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beekeeper that: |
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(A) produces less than 2,500 pounds of honey each |
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year; |
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(B) sells or distributes the honey or honeycomb |
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that the beekeeper produces either personally or with the help of |
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the beekeeper's immediate family members; |
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(C) only sells or distributes honey or honeycomb: |
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(i) that is produced from a hive that is: |
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(a) located in the state; and |
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(b) owned and managed by the |
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beekeeper; |
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(ii) that is pure honey as defined by |
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Section 131.001, Agriculture Code, and that is raw and not blended |
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with any other product or otherwise adulterated; and |
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(iii) directly to consumers at the |
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beekeeper's home, a farmer's market, a farm stand, or a municipal, |
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county, or nonprofit fair, festival, or event; and |
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(D) delivers the honey or honeycomb that the |
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beekeeper produces to the consumer at the point of sale or another |
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location designated by the consumer. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 437, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Sections 437.0197, 437.0198, and 437.0199 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 437.0197. EXEMPTION FOR SMALL HONEY PRODUCTION |
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OPERATION. A small honey production operation is not a food service |
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establishment for purposes of this chapter. |
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Sec. 437.0198. REGULATION OF SMALL HONEY PRODUCTION |
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OPERATION PROHIBITED. A local government authority, including a |
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local health department, may not regulate the production of honey |
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or honeycomb at a small honey production operation. |
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Sec. 437.0199. LABELING REQUIREMENTS FOR SMALL HONEY |
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PRODUCTION OPERATION. Honey or honeycomb sold or distributed by a |
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small honey production operation must be labeled in accordance with |
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Subchapter E, Chapter 131, Agriculture Code. The label must |
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include: |
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(1) the net weight of the honey expressed in both the |
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avoirdupois and metric systems; |
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(2) the beekeeper's name and address; and |
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(3) the statement "Bottled or packaged in a facility |
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not inspected by the Texas Department of State Health Services." |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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* * * * * |