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                                                                  H.B. No. 470




AN ACT

relating to the labeling, advertising, and sale of halal foods; 
providing a criminal penalty.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 17, Business & Commerce Code, is amended 
by adding Subchapter I to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER I.  LABELING, ADVERTISING, AND SALE OF HALAL FOODS
	Sec. 17.881.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:                         
		(1)  "Halal," as applied to food, means food prepared 
and served in conformity with Islamic religious requirements 
according to a recognized Islamic authority.
		(2)  "Label" means a display of written, printed, or 
graphic matter on the immediate article or container of any food 
product.
		(3)  "Person" includes an individual, corporation, or 
association.   
		(4)  "Restaurant" means a place where food is sold for 
on–premises consumption.
		(5)  "Retail store" means a retail grocery store, 
delicatessen, butcher shop, or other place where food is sold for 
off-premises consumption.
		(6)  "Sell" means to offer for sale, expose for sale, 
have in possession for sale, convey, exchange, barter, or trade.
	Sec. 17.882.  MEAT LABELING.  (a) If a person sells both 
halal meat and nonhalal meat in the same retail store, the person 
shall clearly label each portion of halal meat with the word 
"halal."   If an unwrapped or unpackaged meat product is displayed 
for sale, the display case or container in which the meat is 
displayed must be clearly labeled with the word "halal" or 
"nonhalal," as applicable.
	(b)  A person commits an offense if the person is required to 
label meat in accordance with this section and the person knowingly 
sells meat that is not labeled as provided in this section.
	Sec. 17.883.  SALE OF NONHALAL FOOD.  A person commits an 
offense if the person knowingly or intentionally sells at a 
restaurant or a retail store a food product that is represented as 
halal food and is not halal food and the person either knows the 
food is not halal food or was reckless about determining whether or 
not the food is halal food.
	Sec. 17.884.  CIVIL REMEDY.  A consumer aggrieved by a 
violation of this subchapter may maintain a cause of action for 
damages in accordance with Section 17.50.
	Sec. 17.885.  CRIMINAL PENALTY.  An offense under this 
subchapter is punishable by the fine imposed for an offense under  
Section 17.12(d).
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.                           




______________________________              ______________________________
 
   President of the Senate                               Speaker of the House      

	I certify that H.B. No. 470 was passed by the House on March 
28, 2003, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House   

	I certify that H.B. No. 470 was passed by the Senate on May 
28, 2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Secretary of the Senate    



APPROVED:  _____________________                                            
 
                   Date                                                      




 
          _____________________                                          
 
                 Governor