AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Monday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill intended to standardized the regulation of the state's food service industry.
Senate Bill 1008 passed in the Senate on April 9 and in the House of Representatives on May 5, with bipartisan support in both chambers. The Texas Restaurant Association (TRA) called its "signature bill" of the legislative session in a Tuesday press release.
“This new law...improves transparency and predictability for our industry, which is regulated by about 200 different health departments across Texas," said the TRA in its release.
For restaurants and other food service, the bill creates a cap on permitting fees, removes sound regulation permits and fees, and also requires local public health agencies notify via email 60 days prior to changing its permitting or health inspection procedures.
The fee cap is set to what a restaurant would pay if it were under the Texas Department of State Health Services' jurisdiction.
Travis County businesses likely won't see a drop in their operating permit fees, which are well below DSHS levels. For other businesses under Austin Public Health, this law will likely decrease those fees. The APH fee schedule can be read below.
EHSD-Fee-Schedule-FY2024-Tabloid-eff-5-8-2024DownloadTexas' largest counties, including Travis County, will be allowed to charge up to 120% more if "necessary to protect public safety and maintain adequate food safety staffing levels in the county, municipality, or district."
“Each of these reforms matter, and together they bring real relief, especially for the small businesses that make up 90% of our foodservice industry," the TRA said. "Today’s economy is marked with tremendous uncertainty and cost pressures, but SB 1008 is an example of the bipartisan work the Texas Restaurant Association leads to mitigate these pressures, helping local restaurants save money and focus on what really matters—serving their communities."
Beyond the TRA, the bill also received support from the Texas Trucking Association, wholesale food distributor Sysco and restaurant owners during a March 18 public hearing of the Senate Business & Commerce committee, according to legislative records.
No one testified against the bill during the March hearing, but officials with the Bexar County Commissioners Court, Tarrant County Administrator's Office and the City of Irving registered their opposition to the bill.
The Legislative Budget Board said in its fiscal note on SB 1008 that implementation will cost Texas' budget at least $140,000 annually. This money would be used to employ a person "to maintain and monitor the fee registry."
However, the cost could increase rapidly if DSHS also has to take on health inspections, the board warned.
"DSHS is unable to estimate how many local jurisdictions would opt to cease inspection and permitting for retail foods establishments. If these activities were turned over to DSHS, the agency would need additional support for inspection and permitting activities," the fiscal note reads.
The law takes effect at the start of September.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Texas restaurants cheer changes to permits, fees from new law )
Also on site :