HBA-DMD H.B. 12 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 12
By: Goolsby
Licensing & Administrative Procedures
4/27/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, Texas law does not require establishments that serve alcoholic
beverages to post warning signs about the hazards of alcohol consumption.
H.B. 12 requires license or permit holders for onsite consumption to post
signs in a conspicuous place warning consumers of the hazards of alcohol
consumption to pregnant women and people driving a car or operating
machinery. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
in SECTION 1 (Section 109.61, Alcoholic Beverage Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 109D, Alcoholic Beverage Code, by adding Section
109.61, as     follows: 
 
Sec. 109.61.  WARNING SIGNS REQUIRED FOR ON-PREMISE PERMIT OR LICENSE
HOLDERS.  Requires license or permit holders for on-premise consumption,
including holders of a food and beverage certificate,  to post a sign in
plain view in each restroom warning about the hazards of alcohol
consumption.  Sets forth the language of the sign. Requires the Texas
Alcoholic Beverage Commission (commission) to adopt rules relating to the
posting of warning signs required by this section. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  January 1, 2000.  
            Requires the commission to adopt rules and provide warning
signs by December                            15, 1999. 

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.