S-4199.1  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6478

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     2000 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators McAuliffe, Kohl‑Welles, Goings, Eide, Patterson and Rasmussen)

Read first time 01/26/2000.

Developing training requirements for handlers of food in schools.

    AN ACT Relating to food safety standards in schools; adding a new section to chapter 28A.235 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that the health, safety, and welfare of Washington students is dependent upon the safe preparation of food at Washington schools.  The legislature further finds that children are more vulnerable and susceptible to food-borne illnesses warranting safety protections greater than might normally be prescribed.  Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature that higher food safety standards be implemented regarding personnel engaged in food preparation in Washington schools.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.235 RCW to read as follows:

    The superintendent of public instruction shall, in consultation with the department of health, local health jurisdictions, representatives of food and nutrition service employees, and representatives of the food service industry, adopt rules establishing minimum training and permit requirements of individuals employed by school districts or private schools in the handling or preparation of food.  The rules adopted under this section must exceed the standards required under chapter 69.06 RCW.  The superintendent of public instruction's statutory authority to adopt new rules or amend previously adopted rules under this section expires two years after the effective date of this act.

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