Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

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REGULATORY
77 th Texas Legislature
Higher Penalties for Bootlegging - H.B. 269
by Representative Berman
Senate Sponsor: Senator Staples
Makes bootlegging a Class B misdemeanor, and increases it to a state jail felony for multiple convictions.
Telemarketers and Fraud - H.B. 472
by Representative Solomons, et al.
Senate Sponsor: Senator Shapleigh
An estimated $40 billion is lost each year through telemarketing fraud and, additionally, consumers
complain their privacy is invaded, and their peace of mind lost due to numerous or aggressive solicitations.
Some calls violate the state mandated self-imposed, no-call list maintained by solicitors and the state time
restrictions on solicitations.
Creates the Texas Telemarketing Disclosure and Privacy Act to protect consumers from unwanted
telemarketing calls and sets forth penalties for those telemarketers who violate these provisions.
Wineries in Dry Counties May Sell on Premises - H.B. 627
by Representative Hilderbran
Senate Sponsor: Senator Fraser
Many wineries in Texas are located in dry counties that prohibit selling wine on the premises for
consumption off premises. Marketing their products therefore is left to wholesalers and distributors. Small
wineries may be at a disadvantage in this scenario as wholesalers and distributors focus on higher
profitability margins afforded by the larger wineries.
Allows a winery located in a dry county to sell wine on premises for consumption off premises under
specified conditions.
Alcohol Sales, Consumption, and Private and Parochial Schools - H.B. 688
by Representative Woolley, et al.
Senate Sponsor: Senator Whitmire
Private and parochial schools have inadvertently been left out of certain regulations in the Alcoholic
Beverage Code regarding sales near “school, church, or hospital.” By not addressing specifically the
possession or consumption of alcohol near these schools, these entities and their students are not provided
the same protection as other students.
Authorizes the commissioner’s court of a county to enact regulations applicable in certain areas in the
county at the request of the governing body of the private school.
Requires certain measurements to be made regarding the location of private schools and businesses
where alcoholic beverages are sold.
Senate Research Center 246