By: West, et al. S.B. No. 650     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to requiring the use of electronically readable   information to verify a purchaser's age in the retail sale of   alcoholic beverages.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  This Act shall be known as the Deshawn Jagwan   Act.          SECTION 2.  Section 109.61, Alcoholic Beverage Code, is   amended by adding Subsections (a-1), (a-2), (a-3), and (d-1) and   amending Subsections (b) and (d) to read as follows:          (a-1)  A person shall visually inspect and access   electronically readable information on a driver's license,   commercial driver's license, or identification certificate for the   purpose of verifying a purchaser's age in any retail sale of an   alcoholic beverage.  A person required to access electronically   readable information under this subsection may manually enter into   an electronic reader the information on the driver's license,   commercial driver's license, or identification certificate if the   license or certificate cannot be electronically scanned.  This   subsection does not apply to the holder of a food and beverage   certificate operating a restaurant on the premises.          (a-2)  The commission may not take any disciplinary action   against the holder of a permit or license issued under this code for   a violation of Subsection (a-1) if:                (1)  the license or permit holder's failure to access   the electronically readable information is a result of a disruption   of, interruption of, or inability to access Internet connectivity   services or data connectivity services; and                (2)  the license or permit holder visually inspected   the purchaser's driver's license, commercial driver's license, or   identification certificate to verify the purchaser's age.          (a-3)  The commission shall not take any disciplinary action   against the holder of a permit or license issued under this code for   a violation of Subsection (a-1) for the retail sale of an alcoholic   beverage made before September 1, 2027. This subsection expires   September 1, 2028.          (b)  A person may not retain information accessed under this   section [unless the commission by rule requires the information to   be retained. The person may not retain the information longer than   the commission requires].          (d)  Except as provided by Subsection (d-1), a [A] person who   violates this section commits an offense. An offense under this   section is a Class A misdemeanor.          (d-1)  It is a defense to prosecution for failure to access   electronically readable information on a driver's license,   commercial driver's license, or identification certificate as   required by Subsection (a-1) that:                (1)  the person's failure to access the electronically   readable information as required by Subsection (a-1) was caused by   a disruption of, interruption of, or inability to access Internet   connectivity services or data connectivity services that prevented   the person from accessing the information; or                (2)  the purchaser was 40 years of age or older on the   date of the purchase.          SECTION 3.  Not later than September 1, 2027, the Texas   Alcoholic Beverage Commission shall adopt rules to implement   Section 109.61(a-1), Alcoholic Beverage Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.