Brief Description: Repealing the statutes regulating food lockers.

Sponsors: By Representatives Kretz, Warnick, Hailey, McCoy, Newhouse and Haler; by request of Department of Agriculture.

House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources
Senate Committee on Agriculture & Rural Economic Development

Background:

Refrigerated food storage lockers are facilities that offer to the public, for rent or other compensation, separate compartments for the cold storage and preservation of human food. Since 1943, operators of refrigerated food storage lockers have been licensed and regulated by the state. An operator seeking a license must have the facility inspected by the Department of Agriculture (Department) and, if approved, the Department of Licensing will then issue the facility a refrigerated locker license for a $10 fee. Licenses are renewed annually for $10 and the proceeds are deposited in the State General Fund. People who work in these facilities must have a health certificate from an accredited physician. The Department conducts a periodic inspection of each licensed establishment and the Department's Director has the authority to suspend or revoke a license if a facility is found to be unsanitary or operated unproperly.

According to the Department, in prior years, one or more refrigerated locker facilities operated in every city, and licenses were issued to several hundred facilities. However, as of July 2006, there were 14 refrigerated locker licensees in the state. Half of these were also licensed and therefore inspected, by the Department as food storage warehouses, custom meat facilities, or food processors.

Summary:

The statutes that require separate licensing and regulation of refrigerated food storage lockers are repealed.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   94   1
Senate   48   0

Effective: July 22, 2007