87R2455 JES-F
 
  By: Hancock S.B. No. 911
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the regulation of restaurants and third-party food
  delivery services, including the issuance of certain permits to
  restaurants.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 1.04, Alcoholic Beverage Code, is
  amended by adding Subdivision (29) to read as follows:
               (29)  "Restaurant" means a business that:
                     (A)  operates its own permanent food service
  facility with commercial cooking equipment on its premises; and
                     (B)  prepares and offers to sell multiple entrees
  for consumption on or off the premises.
         SECTION 2.  Sections 25.13(a-1), (b-1), and (d), Alcoholic
  Beverage Code, as effective September 1, 2021, are amended to read
  as follows:
         (a-1)  A holder of a wine and malt beverage retailer's permit
  that is a restaurant may be issued a food and beverage certificate
  by the commission if the commission finds that the receipts from the
  sale of alcoholic beverages by the permit holder at the location are
  60 percent or less of the total receipts from the location.
         (b-1)  [The commission shall adopt rules requiring the
  holder of a food and beverage certificate to assure that permanent
  food service facilities for the preparation and service of multiple
  entrees for consumption at the location are available at the
  location.] The commission may exempt permittees who are
  concessionaires in public entertainment venues such as sports
  stadiums and convention centers from:
               (1)  the requirement that the permittee operate its own
  permanent food service facility with commercial cooking equipment
  on its premises; and
               (2)  the sales requirements under Subsection 
  [Subsections] (a-1) [and (b)].
         (d)  A certificate issued under this section expires on the
  expiration of the primary wine and malt beverage retailer's permit.
  A certificate may be canceled at any time, and the renewal of a
  certificate may be denied, if the commission finds that the holder
  of the certificate is in violation of Subsection (a-1) [or (b) or a
  rule adopted under Subsection (b-1)]. On finding that the
  permittee knowingly operated under a food and beverage certificate
  while not complying with this section [or a rule adopted under
  Subsection (b-1)], the commission may cancel or deny the renewal of
  the permittee's wine and malt beverage retailer's permit. The
  holder of a wine and malt beverage retailer's permit whose
  certificate has been canceled or who is denied renewal of a
  certificate under this subsection may not apply for a new
  certificate until the day after the first anniversary of the date
  the certificate was canceled or the renewal of the certificate was
  denied.
         SECTION 3.  Sections 28.18(a-1), (b-1), and (e), Alcoholic
  Beverage Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a-1)  A holder of a mixed beverage permit that is a
  restaurant may be issued a food and beverage certificate by the
  commission if the commission finds that the receipts from the sale
  of alcoholic beverages by the permit holder at the location are 60
  percent or less of the total receipts from the location.
         (b-1)  [The commission shall adopt rules requiring the
  holder of a food and beverage certificate to assure that permanent
  food service facilities for the preparation and service of multiple
  entrees for consumption at the location are available at the
  location.]  The commission may exempt permittees who are
  concessionaires in public entertainment venues such as sports
  stadiums and convention centers from:
               (1)  the requirement that the permittee operate its own
  permanent food service facility with commercial cooking equipment
  on its premises; and
               (2)  the sales requirements under Subsection 
  [Subsections] (a-1) [and (b)].
         (e)  A certificate issued under this section expires on the
  expiration of the primary mixed beverage permit.  A certificate may
  be canceled at any time, and the renewal of a certificate may be
  denied, if the commission finds that the holder of the certificate
  is in violation of Subsection (a-1) [or (b) or a rule adopted under
  Subsection (b-1)].  On finding that the permittee knowingly
  operated under a food and beverage certificate while not complying
  with this section [or a rule adopted under Subsection (b-1)], the
  commission may cancel or deny the renewal of the permittee's mixed
  beverage permit.  A mixed beverage permit issued in an area where
  the legal sale of mixed beverages was authorized by a local option
  election under Section 501.035(b)(9), Election Code, is canceled by
  operation of law if the food and beverage certificate is canceled or
  is not renewed.  The holder of a mixed beverage permit whose
  certificate has been canceled or who is denied renewal of a
  certificate under this subsection may not apply for a new
  certificate until the day after the first anniversary of the date
  the certificate was canceled or the renewal of the certificate was
  denied.
         SECTION 4.  Sections 32.23(a-1), (b-1), and (e), Alcoholic
  Beverage Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a-1)  A holder of a private club registration permit that is
  a restaurant may be issued a food and beverage certificate by the
  commission if the commission finds that the receipts from the
  service of alcoholic beverages by the permit holder at the location
  are 60 percent or less of the total receipts from the location.
         (b-1)  [The commission shall adopt rules requiring the
  holder of a food and beverage certificate to assure that permanent
  food service facilities for the preparation and service of multiple
  entrees for consumption at the location are available at the
  location.]  The commission may exempt permittees who are
  concessionaires in public entertainment venues such as sports
  stadiums and convention centers from:
               (1)  the requirement that the permittee operate its own
  permanent food service facility with commercial cooking equipment
  on its premises; and
               (2)  the sales requirements under Subsection
  [Subsections] (a-1) [and (b)].
         (e)  A certificate issued under this section expires on the
  expiration of the primary private club registration permit.  A
  certificate may be canceled at any time, and the renewal of a
  certificate may be denied, if the commission finds that the holder
  of the certificate is in violation of Subsection (a-1) [or (b) or a
  rule adopted under Subsection (b-1)].  On finding that the
  permittee knowingly operated under a food and beverage certificate
  while not complying with this section [or a rule adopted under
  Subsection (b-1)], the commission may cancel or deny the renewal of
  the permittee's private club registration permit.  The holder of a
  private club registration permit whose certificate has been
  canceled or who is denied renewal of a certificate under this
  subsection may not apply for a new certificate until the day after
  the first anniversary of the date the certificate was canceled or
  the renewal of the certificate was denied.
         SECTION 5.  Sections 69.16(a-1), (b-1), and (d), Alcoholic
  Beverage Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a-1)  A holder of a retail dealer's on-premise license that
  is a restaurant may be issued a food and beverage certificate by the
  commission if the commission finds that the receipts from the sale
  of alcoholic beverages by the license holder at the location are 60
  percent or less of the total receipts from the location.
         (b-1)  [The commission shall adopt rules requiring the
  holder of a food and beverage certificate to assure that permanent
  food service facilities for the preparation and service of multiple
  entrees for consumption at the location are available at the
  location.]  The commission may exempt licensees who are
  concessionaires in public entertainment venues such as sports
  stadiums and convention centers from:
               (1)  the requirement that the permittee operate its own
  permanent food service facility with commercial cooking equipment
  on its premises; and
               (2)  the sales requirements under Subsection
  [Subsections] (a-1) [and (b)].
         (d)  A certificate issued under this section expires on the
  expiration of the primary retail dealer's on-premise license.  A
  certificate may be canceled at any time, and the renewal of a
  certificate may be denied, if the commission finds that the holder
  of the certificate is in violation of Subsection (a-1) [or (b) or a
  rule adopted under Subsection (b-1)].  On finding that the licensee
  knowingly operated under a food and beverage certificate while not
  complying with this section [or a rule adopted under Subsection
  (b-1)], the commission may cancel or deny the renewal of the
  licensee's retail dealer's on-premise license.  The  holder of a
  retail dealer's on-premise license whose certificate has been
  canceled or who is denied renewal of a certificate under this
  subsection may not apply for a new certificate until the day after
  the first anniversary of the date the certificate was canceled or
  the renewal of the certificate was denied.
         SECTION 6.  Subtitle C, Title 5, Business & Commerce Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 114 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 114. THIRD-PARTY FOOD DELIVERY SERVICES
         Sec. 114.0001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Mark" and "trade name" have the meanings assigned
  by Section 16.001.
               (2)  "Restaurant" has the meaning assigned by Section
  1.04, Alcoholic Beverage Code.
               (3)  "Third-party food delivery service" means a
  website, mobile application, or other Internet-based service that
  acts as an intermediary between consumers and multiple restaurants
  not owned or operated by the service to arrange for the delivery of
  food or beverages from those restaurants.
         Sec. 114.0002.  PROHIBITED ACTS. A third-party food
  delivery service may not:
               (1)  arrange for the delivery of food or beverages from
  a restaurant in this state unless the service has filed a
  certificate of formation or registration with the secretary of
  state;
               (2)  use a restaurant's mark or trade name in connection
  with the service in a misleading way that suggests the restaurant
  sponsors or endorses the service;
               (3)  alter a restaurant's pricing for a food or beverage
  ordered from the restaurant on the service, except that the service
  may charge additional fees for use of the service if the fees are
  clearly expressed to the consumer as a separate charge from the
  price of the food or beverage ordered from the restaurant; or
               (4)  charge a restaurant a fee in connection with the
  service's delivery of food or beverages from that restaurant unless
  the restaurant has agreed to pay a fee to the service under an
  agreement under Section 114.0004.
         Sec. 114.0003.  REQUIREMENTS FOR SERVICE. A third-party
  food delivery service shall:
               (1)  provide a consumer a clearly identified mechanism
  for the consumer to express concerns or complaints directly to the
  service regarding a delivery of food or beverages arranged through
  the service; and
               (2)  remove a restaurant from the service not later
  than the 10th day after the date the service receives a request from
  the restaurant to be removed from the service if the service does
  not have an agreement with the restaurant to provide the delivery
  service.
         Sec. 114.0004.  TERMS OF AGREEMENT WITH RESTAURANT. (a) An
  agreement between a third-party food delivery service and a
  restaurant must:
               (1)  be in writing;
               (2)  expressly authorize the service to arrange for the
  delivery of food or beverages from that restaurant; and
               (3)  clearly state each fee, including a commission or
  other charge, that the restaurant will be required to pay or absorb
  in connection with the service's delivery of food from that
  restaurant.
         (b)  The agreement may not include any provision that
  requires the restaurant to indemnify the third-party food delivery
  service, including an employee or independent contractor of the
  service, for claims or liabilities resulting from acts or omissions
  of the service or of an employee or independent contractor of the
  service.
         (c)  A provision in an agreement that violates Subsection (b)
  is void and unenforceable.
         Sec. 114.0005.  PRIVATE CAUSE OF ACTION. (a)  If a
  third-party food delivery service violates Section 114.0002 or
  114.0003, a restaurant aggrieved by the violation may bring an
  action against the service for:
               (1)  injunctive relief; and
               (2)  damages in an amount equal to:
                     (A)  the restaurant's actual damages arising from
  the violation; or
                     (B)  the service's profits arising from the
  violation.
         (b)  If the court finds that the defendant committed the
  violation knowingly or in bad faith, the court may award the
  plaintiff:
               (1)  exemplary damages in an amount that is not more
  than three times the sum of:
                     (A)  the plaintiff's actual damages; and 
                     (B)  the defendant's profits arising from the
  violation; and
               (2)  the plaintiff's reasonable attorney's fees.
         SECTION 7.  Subchapter D, Chapter 438, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended by adding Section 438.0432 to read as follows:
         Sec. 438.0432.  DELIVERY SERVICE FOOD SAFETY ACCREDITATION.
  (a)  In this section, "third-party food delivery service" has the
  meaning assigned by Section 114.0001, Business & Commerce Code.
         (b)  Notwithstanding Section 438.043, the department as
  provided by this section may accredit an education program on basic
  food safety for third-party food delivery service employees and
  independent contractors who deliver food as authorized by Chapter
  114, Business & Commerce Code. 
         (c)  The executive commissioner shall by rule define the
  training on basic food safety that must be included in a third-party
  food delivery service course curriculum. The course length may not
  exceed 30 minutes. 
         (d)  An education program accredited under this section may
  require a participant to achieve a passing score on an examination
  to successfully complete the course for certification.
         (e)  An education program accredited under this section may
  be provided through the Internet or a mobile application.
         (f)  The department or a local health authority may not
  require a third-party food delivery service employee or independent
  contractor to complete an education program accredited under this
  section. A local health authority may not charge a fee to an
  employee or contractor who provides proof of completion of an
  education program accredited under this section.
         SECTION 8.  Chapter 250, Local Government Code, is amended
  by adding Section 250.011 to read as follows:
         Sec. 250.011.  THIRD-PARTY FOOD DELIVERY SERVICES.  (a)  In
  this section, "third-party food delivery service" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 114.0001, Business & Commerce Code.
         (b)  Notwithstanding any other law, a municipality or county
  may not adopt or enforce an ordinance or regulation that:
               (1)  applies requirements to a third-party food
  delivery service that are more restrictive than the requirements
  that apply to the service under Chapter 114, Business & Commerce
  Code;
               (2)  affects the fees charged to a restaurant by a
  third-party food delivery service; or
               (3)  affects the terms of an agreement between a
  third-party food delivery service and a restaurant required under
  Section 114.0004, Business & Commerce Code.
         SECTION 9.  The following sections of the Alcoholic Beverage
  Code are repealed:
               (1)  Section 25.13(b), as effective September 1, 2021;
               (2)  Section 28.18(b);
               (3)  Section 32.23(b); and
               (4)  Section 69.16(b).
         SECTION 10.  Section 114.0004, Business & Commerce Code, as
  added by this Act, applies only to an agreement entered into or
  renewed on or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 11.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.