HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NOTICE OF FORMAL REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

COMMITTEE:    Licensing & Administrative Procedures
             Interim Charges 1,2,3,4 

TIME & DATE:  N/A
Tuesday, August 11, 2020 

PLACE:       N/A 
CHAIR:       Rep. Tracy King 

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and challenges in scheduling public

hearings at this time, the House Committee on Licensing and Administrative Procedures is seeking written submissions from interested parties and the public on the interim charges listed below. Submissions received in response to this request will be transmitted to the members of the committee.

Submission requirements:

·                Submissions must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF.

·                Please submit separate documents if responding to multiple charges.

·                Please include the charge # in the title of the document. 

·                Submissions must be submitted via e-mail to sam.bacarisse@house.texas.gov.

·                The deadline for submissions is October 30th.

CHARGE # 1:

Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee's jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 86th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:

HB 892, which relates to county regulation of game rooms. Monitor the status of counties statewide who have chosen to regulate game rooms and implement their own regulatory structure to combat illegal gambling activity via registration and permitting requirements, fees, disclosure of ownership, inspection schemes, and civil and criminal penalties.

HB 1545, which is the sunset legislation for the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). Monitor the implementation of the legislation and the agency's progress in the consolidation, repeal, and creation of certain licenses and permits and the adoption of new fees.

HB 2847, which is the omnibus occupational licensing legislation. Monitor the implementation of revisions relating to the licensing and regulation of certain occupations by the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation, including the length of a license term, a fee for the issuance or renewal of a license, and any continuing education required to renew a license.

SB 1450, which authorizes alcohol delivery to consumers. Monitor the implementation and permitting process by TABC for consumer delivery of alcohol

CHARGE # 2:

Study efforts by the TABC to combat human trafficking at all licensed locations. Make recommendations to increase the TABC's ability to rescue victims and successfully prosecute permit holders that have been identified as participating in human trafficking, and to make regulatory or statutory changes needed to prevent human trafficking in this state.

CHARGE # 3:

Examine "control label" products and their impact on the three-tier system and alcoholic beverage industry in the state. Make recommendations to regulate control label products in a way that promotes economic growth, benefits the consumer, and stabilizes the three-tier system.

CHARGE 4:

Evaluate the Texas wine industry and the current labeling requirements associated with the use of "Texas" as an appellation. Determine if current regulations and permitting rules are adequate to support the industry's development.