H.B. No. 1846
AN ACT
relating to public comments on federal grants and contracts related
to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter K, Chapter 431, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 431.250 to read as follows:
Sec. 431.250. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR FEDERAL GRANTS AND
CONTRACTS. (a) The department shall annually solicit comments
from interested persons regarding the grants and contracts the
department has requested from or entered into with the United
States Food and Drug Administration for implementing the federal
Act and its amendments, including the Food Safety Modernization Act
(21 U.S.C. Section 2201 et seq.).
(b) The department shall solicit comments by posting on the
department's Internet website a detailed description of and
providing notice to interested persons of each grant and contract
described by Subsection (a) requested or entered into during the
previous year. The description and notice must include the
benefits to this state, the department, the regulated community,
and the public.
(c) The department shall respond to questions and comments
about a grant or contract described by Subsection (a) to the best of
the department's knowledge. If an interested person requests that
the department decline to receive future federal funding from the
grant or contract, the department shall consider the request and
determine whether the benefits of the grant or contract outweigh
the person's concerns.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1846 was passed by the House on May 5,
2015, by the following vote: Yeas 145, Nays 0, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1846 was passed by the Senate on May
26, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor