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http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas ... 655708.php

"Educational Institution" is their claim.

Do they confer a degree?

Huh. I wonder if they know it's a Class C misdemeanor to possess or sell alcohol on publicly-owned educational property throughout the state. I guess I'll call the TABC tomorrow.

I bet you they care way more about their two licenses then the threat of the AG investigating for a few months. TABC don't play around.

denwego wrote:Huh. I wonder if they know it's a Class C misdemeanor to possess or sell alcohol on publicly-owned educational property throughout the state. I guess I'll call the TABC tomorrow.

I bet you they care way more about their two licenses then the threat of the AG investigating for a few months. TABC don't play around.

hey, I like that

denwego wrote:Huh. I wonder if they know it's a Class C misdemeanor to possess or sell alcohol on publicly-owned educational property throughout the state. I guess I'll call the TABC tomorrow.

I bet you they care way more about their two licenses then the threat of the AG investigating for a few months. TABC don't play around.

Brilliant! You should do it.

On that note, I found a TABC license for the same address as the FW Zoo...

License #: MB608184

Trade Name: CULINAIRE OF TEXAS
Owner: CULINAIRE INTERNATIONAL INC.
Location Address:
1989 COLONIAL PARKWAY
FORT WORTH , TX 76110-6640
Mailing Address:
2100 ROSS AVE STE 3100
DALLAS , TX 752016702
County: Tarrant Orig. Issue Date: 7/5/2005
Status: Current Exp. Date: 7/4/2017
Wine Percent:
Location Phone No.: 817-759-7406
Subordinates: CB,LB,PE
Related To: Gun Sign: BLUE

How do we turn them in? I will do it myself!

I'm just going to grab my popcorn, sit back, and watch... this could get interesting.

troglodyte wrote:http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas ... 655708.php

"Educational Institution" is their claim.

My favorite part is that they are no more a school than my house is... but apparently they all got together and said "our mission is to educate about animals, so then we are a school..."

AG's office will have fun with this, then TX LEG gets their swing at it in 2017.

Has the AG ruled on any businesses yet? I wanna see some fines!

If they are educational institution I hope they are meeting the requirements set out in the education code...

I have not yet heard back from AG's office regarding Ft. Worth Zoo. I too like the idea of filing a complaint with TABC against the Zoos as one of two things could happen:

1) TABC most likely rules Zoos are not a school i.e. "educational institution" as defined by statute.
2) TABC rules they are in violation since they are claiming to be an "educational institution".

I think number 2 is highly unlikely, but if they do, then the Zoos will have to start obeying all laws and regulations for educational institutions. They better be careful what they ask for. I just do not see anyway they meet the legal definition of a school in multiple areas where schools and higher education are written into law or regulations here in Texas.

If TABC as a state agency enforcing statutes regarding alcohol does rule that they are not an "educational institution" as defined by statute, that bolsters our arguments for the AG as well as the upcoming 2017 Legislative Session that the Zoos have at an minimum attempted to thwart legislative intent and even possibly colluded together in doing so.

Glad to see that this was also picked up by someone else as overnight I was dealing with someone at home with the flu and only got to post briefly that I'd read this as the article came online.

I love the idea of the TABC investigation. I also think that there is an interesting angle to be explored with them working together to do this - wondering if anyone has explored yet the implications of claiming to be an educational institution and whether there are specific code requirements within the lengthy TX Educational Code of who can be one, how they are designated, and so on - especially for a local government (who I think would have to then have a zoo or museum operated under the control of their ISD to meet compliance requirements). And is falsely claiming to be an educational institution some form of fraud? And if doing so what crime is committed when they share strategy to commit that fraud. Meanwhile I sure wish that someone, somewhere, would get a response from the AG that fines are happening.

"Educational institution" is not defined in Texas statues. There is something close and it does not help the zoo. I've already written a bench brief on this subject. This is going to cost the Houston Zoo a lot of money.

Chas.

Charles L. Cotton wrote:"Educational institution" is not defined in Texas statues. There is something close and it does not help the zoo. I've already written a bench brief on this subject. This is going to cost the Houston Zoo a lot of money.

Chas.

That explains why I didn't see anything to define it in the rather lengthy Educational Code. Glad to hear that you're already on top of it - thanks for your efforts! Is a bench brief sort of like a friend of the court brief/filing? And is that something that once filed that can be shared here?

Charles L. Cotton wrote:"Educational institution" is not defined in Texas statues. There is something close and it does not help the zoo. I've already written a bench brief on this subject. This is going to cost the Houston Zoo a lot of money.

Chas.

Don't the fines only start after the AG has made a decision and the zoo gets 15 days to bring down the signs?
And wouldn't it cost the city of Houston a lot money, not the Zoo (privately run), as SB273 only applies to the state or its subdivisions?