Bill Text: TX SB171 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to disclosure of calorie content and nutrition information by certain food establishments; providing an administrative penalty.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-01-31 - Referred to Business & Commerce [SB171 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-SB171-Introduced.html
  82R2205 NAJ-D
 
  By: Hinojosa S.B. No. 171
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to disclosure of calorie content and nutrition information
  by certain food establishments; providing an administrative
  penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 438, Health and Safety Code, is amended
  by adding Subchapter H to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER H. NUTRITION LABELING OF STANDARD MENU ITEMS AT CERTAIN
  FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
         Sec. 438.131.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Commissioner" means the commissioner of state
  health services.
               (2)  "Department" means the Department of State Health
  Services.
               (3)  "Executive commissioner" means the executive
  commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.
         Sec. 438.132.  ENFORCEMENT; RULES. (a) A food
  establishment subject to Section 403(q)(5)(H), Federal Food, Drug,
  and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. Section 343), shall comply with that
  section and the rules adopted under this subchapter.
         (b)  The department shall enforce Section 403(q)(5)(H),
  Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. Section 343).
         (c)  The executive commissioner shall adopt rules to
  implement this subchapter. The executive commissioner shall review
  the regulations adopted by the United States Food and Drug
  Administration under Section 403(q)(5)(H), Federal Food, Drug, and
  Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. Section 343), before adopting rules under
  this subsection.
         (d)  Rules adopted under Subsection (c) must be consistent
  with the requirements of Section 403(q)(5)(H), Federal Food, Drug,
  and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. Section 343), and the regulations
  adopted by the United States Food and Drug Administration under
  that section.
         Sec. 438.133.  INSPECTION. (a) To enforce the rules adopted
  under this subchapter, the commissioner, an authorized agent, or a
  health authority may, on presenting appropriate credentials to the
  owner, operator, or agent in charge of a food establishment, enter
  an establishment to conduct an inspection to determine compliance
  with rules adopted under this subchapter.
         (b)  On finding an alleged violation, an authorized agent
  conducting an inspection shall submit to the commissioner and the
  owner or operator of the food establishment notice by certified
  mail that includes:
               (1)  a brief summary of the alleged violation;
               (2)  the amount of the recommended penalty; and
               (3)  a statement informing the owner or operator of the
  food establishment of the owner's or operator's right to a hearing
  on the occurrence of the violation, the amount of the penalty, or
  both.
         Sec. 438.134.  ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY. (a) The
  commissioner may assess an administrative penalty against a person
  who violates this subchapter.
         (b)  In determining the amount of the penalty, the
  commissioner shall consider:
               (1)  the seriousness of the violation;
               (2)  the person's previous violations;
               (3)  the amount necessary to deter a future violation;
               (4)  the person's demonstrated good faith; and
               (5)  such other matters as justice may require.
         (c)  The penalty may not exceed $500 for each violation.
         (d)  A person may not be charged with more than one violation
  of this subchapter on the basis of evidence gathered during a single
  inspection.
         Sec. 438.135.  ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE.
  (a) An administrative penalty may be assessed only after a person
  charged with a violation is given an opportunity for a hearing.
         (b)  If a hearing is held, the commissioner shall make
  findings of fact and shall issue a written decision regarding the
  occurrence of the violation and the amount of the penalty that may
  be warranted.
         (c)  If the person charged with the violation does not
  request a hearing, the commissioner may assess a penalty after
  determining that a violation has occurred and the amount of the
  penalty that may be warranted.
         (d)  After making a determination under this section that a
  penalty is to be assessed against a person, the commissioner shall
  issue an order requiring that the person pay the penalty.
         (e)  The commissioner may consolidate a hearing held under
  this section with another proceeding.
         Sec. 438.136.  PAYMENT AND COLLECTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE
  PENALTY; JUDICIAL REVIEW. (a) Within 30 days after the date an
  order of the commissioner under Section 438.135(d) that imposes an
  administrative penalty becomes final, the person shall:
               (1)  pay the penalty; or
               (2)  file a petition for judicial review of the
  commissioner's order contesting the occurrence of the violation,
  the amount of the penalty, or both.
         (b)  Within the 30-day period prescribed by Subsection (a), a
  person who files a petition for judicial review may:
               (1)  stay enforcement of the penalty by:
                     (A)  paying the penalty to the court for placement
  in an escrow account; or
                     (B)  giving the court a supersedeas bond approved
  by the court that:
                           (i)  is for the amount of the penalty; and
                           (ii)  is effective until all judicial review
  of the commissioner's order is final; or
               (2)  request the court to stay enforcement of the
  penalty by:
                     (A)  filing with the court a sworn affidavit of
  the person stating that the person is financially unable to pay the
  penalty and is financially unable to give the supersedeas bond; and
                     (B)  sending a copy of the affidavit to the
  commissioner by certified mail.
         (c)  If the commissioner receives a copy of an affidavit
  under Subsection (b)(2), the commissioner may file with the court,
  within five days after the date the copy is received, a contest to
  the affidavit. The court shall hold a hearing on the facts alleged
  in the affidavit as soon as practicable and shall stay enforcement
  of the penalty on finding that the alleged facts are true. The
  person who files an affidavit has the burden of proving that the
  person is financially unable to pay the penalty or to give a
  supersedeas bond.
         (d)  If the person does not pay the penalty and the
  enforcement of the penalty is not stayed, the penalty may be
  collected. The attorney general may sue to collect the penalty.
         (e)  If the court sustains the finding that a violation
  occurred, the court may uphold or reduce the amount of the penalty
  and order the person to pay the full or reduced amount of the
  penalty.
         (f)  If the court does not sustain the finding that a
  violation occurred, the court shall order that a penalty is not
  owed.
         (g)  If the person paid the penalty and if the amount of the
  penalty is reduced or the penalty is not upheld by the court, the
  court shall order, when the court's judgment becomes final, that
  the appropriate amount plus accrued interest be remitted to the
  person within 30 days after the date that the judgment of the court
  becomes final. The interest accrues at the rate charged on loans to
  depository institutions by the New York Federal Reserve Bank. The
  interest shall be paid for the period beginning on the date the
  penalty is paid and ending on the date the penalty is remitted.
         (h)  If the person gave a supersedeas bond and the penalty is
  not upheld by the court, the court shall order, when the court's
  judgment becomes final, the release of the bond. If the person gave
  a supersedeas bond and the amount of the penalty is reduced, the
  court shall order the release of the bond after the person pays the
  reduced amount.
         SECTION 2.  The executive commissioner of the Health and
  Human Services Commission may not adopt the rules required by
  Section 438.132, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act,
  before the United States Food and Drug Administration has adopted
  regulations under Section 403(q)(5)(H) of the Federal Food, Drug,
  and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. Section 343).
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
feedback