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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to regulation of food service establishments, retail food |
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stores, mobile food units, roadside food vendors, temporary food |
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service establishments, and food managers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 437, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by amending Section 437.009 and adding Sections 437.0091, |
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437.01235, and 437.027 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 437.009. INSPECTIONS; INSPECTION FOLLOWING ADOPTION |
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OF CERTAIN LOCAL ORDERS; PROHIBITED DISCIPLINARY ACTION. (a) |
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Authorized agents or employees of the department, a county, or a |
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public health district may enter the premises of a food service |
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establishment, retail food store, mobile food unit, roadside food |
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vendor, or temporary food service establishment under the |
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department's, county's, or district's jurisdiction during normal |
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operating hours to conduct inspections to determine compliance |
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with: |
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(1) state law, including a requirement to hold and |
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display written authorization under Section 437.021; |
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(2) rules adopted under state law; and |
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(3) orders adopted by the department, county, or |
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district. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a county or a public |
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health district may conduct an inspection to determine compliance |
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with an order the county or district issues that differs from state |
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law or department rules or orders only on or after the 60th day |
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following the date the county or district submits a copy of the |
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order to the department for inclusion in the registry established |
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under Section 437.0091. |
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(c) Notwithstanding any other law, the department, a |
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county, a municipality, or a public health district, including an |
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authorized agent or employee, that conducts an inspection as |
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authorized under this section may not take disciplinary action |
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against or otherwise penalize a food service establishment, retail |
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food store, mobile food unit, roadside food vendor, or temporary |
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food service establishment for failing to adhere to easily |
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cleanable surface requirements for wall and ceiling surfaces, |
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decorative items, or attachments in a consumer area, provided the |
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surfaces, items, or attachments are kept clean. For purposes of |
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this subsection, a consumer area includes a dining room, outdoor |
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dining area, or bar seating area in which customers consume food but |
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does not include a table, bar top, or other similar surface where |
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food is regularly prepared or consumed. |
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Sec. 437.0091. LOCAL ORDER REGISTRY. The department shall |
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establish and maintain on the department's Internet website a |
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registry for orders submitted as required under Section 437.009(b) |
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and post in the registry each submitted order not later than the |
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10th day after the date the department receives the order. |
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Sec. 437.01235. FEES FOR PREMISES WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE |
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PERMIT OR LICENSE. A county or a municipality with a public health |
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district that requires the payment of a fee for issuing or renewing |
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a permit under Section 437.012 or 437.0123 for a premises permitted |
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or licensed by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission may not also |
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charge a fee under Section 11.38 or 61.36, Alcoholic Beverage Code, |
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for an alcoholic beverage permit or license issued for premises |
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located in the county or municipality. |
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Sec. 437.027. SOUND REGULATIONS. Notwithstanding any other |
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law, the department, a county, a municipality, or a public health |
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district may not require a food service establishment to obtain a |
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sound regulation permit, charge a sound regulation fee to the |
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establishment, or otherwise prohibit sound-related activity at the |
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establishment if the establishment: |
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(1) accepts delivery of supplies only for one hour or |
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less between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m. and delivery of food, water, or ice |
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only after 11 p.m., provided the sound level from the deliveries |
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does not exceed 75 dBA when measured from the residential property |
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closest in proximity to the establishment, excluding traffic and |
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other background noise that can be reasonably excluded; and |
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(2) limits the use of amplified sound for playing |
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music or amplifying human speech within the establishment's indoor |
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or outside property boundaries to ensure: |
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(A) the amplified sound is not used after 10 p.m. |
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on Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; and |
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(B) the amplified sound level does not exceed 75 |
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dBA when measured at the establishment's outermost property |
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perimeter, excluding traffic and other background noise that can be |
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reasonably excluded. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter G, Chapter 438, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 438.1055 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 438.1055. PROHIBITED REQUIREMENT OF LOCAL FOOD MANAGER |
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CARD OR LOCAL FEE. A local health jurisdiction may not require a |
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food manager who holds a food manager certificate issued under this |
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subchapter to hold a local food manager card or charge a fee for |
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issuance of the certificate under this subchapter. |
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SECTION 3. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective |
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date of this Act, the Department of State Health Services shall |
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establish the registry required under Section 437.0091, Health and |
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Safety Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) The changes in law made by this Act apply only to an |
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inspection conducted or order issued on or after the effective date |
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of this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |