Bill Text: TX HB3764 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Relating to exemptions from certain regulation for small honey production operations.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 6-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-04-22 - Comm. report sent to Local & Consent Calendar [HB3764 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HB3764-Comm_Sub.html
84R13170 AJZ-D | ||
By: Metcalf, Murr, Landgraf, et al. | H.B. No. 3764 |
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relating to exemptions from certain regulation for small honey | ||
production operations. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 437.001, Health and Safety Code, is | ||
amended by adding Subdivisions (1-a) and (7) to read as follows: | ||
(1-a) "Beekeeper" has the meaning assigned by Section | ||
131.001, Agriculture Code. | ||
(7) "Small honey production operation" means a | ||
beekeeper that: | ||
(A) produces less than 2,500 pounds of honey each | ||
year; | ||
(B) sells or distributes the honey or honeycomb | ||
that the beekeeper produces either personally or with the help of | ||
the beekeeper's immediate family members; | ||
(C) only sells or distributes honey or honeycomb: | ||
(i) that is produced from a hive that is: | ||
(a) located in the state; and | ||
(b) owned and managed by the | ||
beekeeper; | ||
(ii) that is pure honey as defined by | ||
Section 131.001, Agriculture Code, and that is raw and not blended | ||
with any other product or otherwise adulterated; and | ||
(iii) directly to consumers at the | ||
beekeeper's home, a farmer's market, a farm stand, or a municipal, | ||
county, or nonprofit fair, festival, or event; and | ||
(D) delivers the honey or honeycomb that the | ||
beekeeper produces to the consumer at the point of sale or another | ||
location designated by the consumer. | ||
SECTION 2. Chapter 437, Health and Safety Code, is amended | ||
by adding Sections 437.0197, 437.0198, and 437.0199 to read as | ||
follows: | ||
Sec. 437.0197. EXEMPTION FOR SMALL HONEY PRODUCTION | ||
OPERATION. A small honey production operation is not a food service | ||
establishment for purposes of this chapter. | ||
Sec. 437.0198. REGULATION OF SMALL HONEY PRODUCTION | ||
OPERATION PROHIBITED. A local government authority, including a | ||
local health department, may not regulate the production of honey | ||
or honeycomb at a small honey production operation. | ||
Sec. 437.0199. LABELING REQUIREMENTS FOR SMALL HONEY | ||
PRODUCTION OPERATION. Honey or honeycomb sold or distributed by a | ||
small honey production operation must be labeled in accordance with | ||
Subchapter E, Chapter 131, Agriculture Code. The label must | ||
include: | ||
(1) the net weight of the honey expressed in both the | ||
avoirdupois and metric systems; | ||
(2) the beekeeper's name and address; and | ||
(3) the statement "Bottled or packaged in a facility | ||
not inspected by the Texas Department of State Health Services." | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |