TABC Code - Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission

(b) The private records of a permittee, licensee, or other person that are required or obtained
by the commission or its agents, in connection with an investigation or otherwise, are privileged unless
introduced in evidence in a hearing before the commission or before a court in this state or the United
States.
Sec. 5.49. PRINTED COPIES OF CODE AND RULES. The commission from time to time
may have as many copies of this code and any commission rule governing the collection or refund of the
gross receipts tax printed in pamphlet form for distribution as it finds necessary.
Sec. 5.50. ESTABLISHMENT OF CERTAIN FEES. (a) The commission by rule may
establish reasonable fees for tasks and services performed by the commission in carrying out the
provisions of this code, including fees incidental to the issuance of licenses and permits under Title 3 of
this code.
(b) The commission may not increase or decrease a fee set by this code, but if a statute is
enacted creating a certificate, permit, or license and there is no fee established, the commission by rule
may set a fee. The commission by rule shall assess surcharges on all applicants for an original or renewal
certificate, permit, or license issued by the commission in addition to any fee set by this code and collect
the surcharges at the time of application. In assessing a surcharge, the commission may not overly
penalize any segment of the alcoholic beverage industry or impose an undue hardship on small
businesses.
(c) Insofar as they relate to the levying and collection of a local fee, Sections 11.38 and
61.36 of this code do not apply to fees set by rule of the commission.
(d) Revenues and surcharges from fees collected by the commission under this section shall
be deposited in the general revenue fund.
Sec. 5.51. BOOKKEEPING RECORDS. A permittee who holds a permit issued under Chapters
28 through 33 of this code may elect to keep all records required under this code on a machine
bookkeeping system. A permittee who desires to use such a system must submit a written application for
commission approval of the system before implementing the system. The commission may authorize a
permittee to centralize the permittee's records.
Sec. 5.52. PROGRAM ACCESSIBILITY PLAN. The commission shall prepare and maintain a
written plan that describes how a person who does not speak English or who has a physical, mental, or
developmental disability may be provided reasonable access to the commission's programs.
Sec. 5.53. PUBLIC INTEREST INFORMATION AND COMPLAINTS. (a) The
commission shall adopt rules that clearly define the agency's complaint process from the time the
complaint is received until it is resolved.
(b) The commission shall make information describing its procedures for complaint
investigation and resolution available to the public and appropriate state agencies, including by posting
the information on the commission's Internet website.
(c) The commission, by rule, shall adopt a standardized form for filing complaints against a
licensed or permitted entity. The commission shall make the complaint form available to the public,
including by posting the complaint form on the commission's Internet website.
(d) The commission by rule shall establish methods by which consumers and service
recipients are notified of the name, mailing address, and telephone number of the commission for the
purpose of directing a complaint to the commission. The commission may require that the notification be
provided on a sign prominently displayed in the place of business of each individual or entity regulated
under this code.
Sec. 5.54. RESOLUTION OF COMPLAINTS. (a) The commission shall maintain a system
to promptly and efficiently act on complaints filed with the commission. The commission shall assign
priorities to complaint investigations based on risk so that the commission handles the most serious
complaints first.
(a-1) The commission shall maintain information about parties to the complaint, the subject
matter of the complaint, a summary of the results of the review or investigation of the complaint, and its
disposition.
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code (2009) 14