S-4510               _______________________________________________

                                         SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL NO. 4963

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Agriculture (originally sponsored by Senator Moore)

Read first time 2/7/86.

AN ACT Relating to food donation and distribution; amending RCW 69.80.010 and 69.80.040; and adding a new section to chapter 69.80 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 1, chapter 241, Laws of 1983 and RCW 69.80.010 are each amended to read as follows:

The legislature finds that organizations within the state that distribute free food to needy persons are faced with increased demand, particularly within economically distressed areas.  This increased demand occurs at a time when federal aid to food distributing organizations is diminishing.  The purpose of this chapter is to facilitate increased donations of food to distributing organizations in order to meet the heightened demand.  The purpose of this chapter is also to promote the free distribution of food to needy persons, prevent waste of food products, and provide liability protection for persons and organizations donating or distributing such food products.

        Sec. 2.  Section 4, chapter 241, Laws of 1983 and RCW 69.80.040 are each amended to read as follows:

          The department of ((agriculture)) community development shall maintain an information and referral service for persons and organizations that have notified the department of their desire to participate in the food donation program under this chapter.

The department shall also provide request forms to distributing organizations that set forth categories and quantities of food.  Distributing organizations are authorized to complete the forms, specifying their requirements in order to meet the needs of their clients.  The completed forms shall be sent to the department, which shall compile the data collected from the forms.  The data shall be transmitted to the governor, or the governor's designee, on a monthly basis.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 69.80 RCW to read as follows:

          The governor, or the governor's designee, is hereby authorized and empowered to solicit donations of food from donors who will, in the judgment of the governor, or the governor's designee, meet the requirements of distributing organizations as communicated to the director of the department of community development, under RCW 69.80.040.