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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an annual study on perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl |
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substances (PFAS) in school lunches. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 12.052 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 12.052. STUDY ON PERFLUOROALKYL AND POLYFLUOROALKYL |
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SUBSTANCES IN SCHOOL LUNCHES. (a) In this section, |
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"perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance" means any member of |
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the class of manufactured fluorinated chemicals containing at least |
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one fully fluorinated carbon atom. |
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(b) The department, with assistance from the Texas |
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Education Agency, shall conduct an annual study to determine levels |
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of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in food served to |
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students under the school lunch program administered by the |
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department under 42 U.S.C. Section 1751 et seq. The study must |
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analyze representative samples of: |
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(1) each food distributed to schools under the |
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program; and |
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(2) other foods commonly purchased by schools using |
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program subsidies. |
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(c) Not later than December 31 of each year, the department |
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shall prepare a report with the results of the study conducted under |
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Subsection (b) and submit the report to the governor, the |
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lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, |
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and each member of the legislature. |
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(d) The department shall adopt rules necessary to implement |
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this section, including to determine which perfluoroalkyl and |
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polyfluoroalkyl substances to test for in the food served to |
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students. |
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SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 12.052, Agriculture |
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Code, as added by this Act, the Department of Agriculture is not |
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required to submit the initial report required by that section |
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until December 31, 2026. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |