H-3900.2  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2754

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     2000 Regular Session

By Representatives Schoesler, Hankins, Thomas, Sump, G. Chandler, Skinner, Cox, Mastin, Dunn and Mulliken

Read first time 01/19/2000.  Referred to Committee on Health Care.

Limiting local health regulations that prohibit communal meals.

    AN ACT Relating to local health rules and regulations regarding communal meals and food banks; and amending RCW 70.05.060.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 70.05.060 and 1991 c 3 s 308 are each amended to read as follows:

    Each local board of health shall have supervision over all matters pertaining to the preservation of the life and health of the people within its jurisdiction and shall:

    (1) Enforce through the local health officer or the administrative officer appointed under RCW 70.05.040, if any, the public health statutes of the state and rules promulgated by the state board of health and the secretary of health;

    (2) Supervise the maintenance of all health and sanitary measures for the protection of the public health within its jurisdiction;

    (3) Enact such local rules and regulations as are necessary in order to preserve, promote and improve the public health and provide for the enforcement thereof:  PROVIDED, That each local rule or regulation regarding communal meals where the food consumed is prepared or purchased by the participants and consumed primarily by the participants, and food banks and donations to food banks, may not take effect until ratified by the legislative authority of each county, city, and town represented on the local board of health;

    (4) Provide for the control and prevention of any dangerous, contagious or infectious disease within the jurisdiction of the local health department;

    (5) Provide for the prevention, control and abatement of nuisances detrimental to the public health;

    (6) Provide public education on healthful and sanitary:  (a) Preparation of food for communal meals, and (b) operation of food banks;

(7) Make such reports to the state board of health through the local health officer or the administrative officer as the state board of health may require; and

    (((7))) (8) Establish fee schedules for issuing or renewing licenses or permits or for such other services as are authorized by the law and the rules of the state board of health:  PROVIDED, That such fees for services shall not exceed the actual cost of providing any such services.

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