| 1 | 1 | | By: Farrar, Rios Ybarra, Gonzalez Toureilles, H.B. No. 681 |
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| 2 | 2 | | et al. |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to requiring warning signs regarding mercury levels in |
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| 8 | 8 | | certain fish. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Chapter 437, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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| 11 | 11 | | by adding Section 437.022 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 437.022. WARNING SIGN REGARDING MERCURY LEVELS IN |
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| 13 | 13 | | CERTAIN FISH. (a) A retail fish dealer shall post a warning sign in |
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| 14 | 14 | | a conspicuous location where it is readily visible by persons |
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| 15 | 15 | | purchasing fresh or previously frozen fish. The department by rule |
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| 16 | 16 | | shall specify the size and graphic design of the sign. The sign |
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| 17 | 17 | | must contain the following wording: |
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| 18 | 18 | | ATTENTION WOMEN CONSIDERING BECOMING PREGNANT, PREGNANT |
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| 19 | 19 | | WOMEN, NURSING MOTHERS, AND PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN |
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| 20 | 20 | | Some fish and shellfish, especially large fish such as shark, |
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| 21 | 21 | | swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish, may contain high levels of |
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| 22 | 22 | | mercury that may harm the developing nervous system of a child. |
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| 23 | 23 | | For more information about the risks of mercury in fish and |
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| 24 | 24 | | shellfish call the Texas Department of State Health Services' food |
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| 25 | 25 | | information line toll-free at (insert toll-free telephone number). |
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| 26 | 26 | | (b) The department shall adopt rules to administer this |
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| 27 | 27 | | section. |
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| 28 | 28 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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