TITLE: Relating to prohibiting the purchase of food or drink items containing certain food additives under the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

SUMMARY: Relating to prohibiting the purchase of food or drink items containing certain food additives under the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to prohibiting the purchase of food or drink items containing certain food additives under the supplemental nutrition assistance program. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Section 33.031 to read as follows: Sec. 33.031. PURCHASE OF FOOD AND DRINK ITEMS CONTAINING CERTAIN FOOD ADDITIVES PROHIBITED UNDER SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. Except as expressly required by federal law, a recipient of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits may not use those benefits to purchase any food or drink item that contains the following substances: (1) brominated vegetable oil (BVO); (2) potassium bromate; (3) propylparaben; (4) azodicarbonamide; (5) butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA); (6) red dye 3; or (7) titanium dioxide. SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the waiver or authorization is granted. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.