BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2223

By: Frullo

International Relations & Economic Development

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There have been calls to strengthen recently passed legislation that provided certain exemptions for scales used exclusively to weigh food sold for immediate consumption. H.B. 2223 seeks to address this issue by clarifying the exemption from registration and inspection requirements provided to such scales.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

H.B. 2223 amends the Agriculture Code to condition the exemption from inspection and registration requirements for a commercial weighing or measuring device that is exclusively used to weigh food sold for immediate consumption on whether the device is used to weigh:

·         food sold ready for immediate consumption, regardless of whether it is consumed where it is weighed and sold; and

·         food not exempted from the sales and use tax.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.