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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the certification of food service workers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 438.046(b), (b-1), and (c), Health and |
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Safety Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(b) [A local health jurisdiction that requires training for
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a food service worker shall accept as sufficient to meet the
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jurisdiction's training and testing requirements a training course
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that is accredited by the department and listed with the registry.] |
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A food service worker trained in a course for the employees of a |
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single entity is considered to have met a local health |
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jurisdiction's training and testing requirements only as to food |
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service performed for that entity. |
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(b-1) A food service worker trained in a food handler |
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training course that is accredited by the American National |
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Standards Institute or that is accredited by the department and |
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listed with the registry is considered to have met a local health |
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jurisdiction's training, testing, and permitting requirements. A |
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local health jurisdiction may require a food establishment, as that |
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term is defined by Section 438.101, to maintain on the premises of |
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the food establishment a certificate of completion of the training |
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course for employees of the food establishment. |
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(c) A local health jurisdiction may not charge a fee for a |
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certificate issued to a food service worker who provides proof of |
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completion of an accredited course described by Subsection (b-1). |
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[Any fee charged by a local health jurisdiction for a certificate
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issued to a food service worker trained by an accredited course
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listed in the registry may not exceed the lesser of:
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[(1)
the reasonable cost incurred by the jurisdiction
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in issuing the certificate; or
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[(2)
the fee charged by the jurisdiction to issue a
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certificate to a food service worker certified by the jurisdiction
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as having met the training and testing requirements by any other
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means.] |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2017. |