HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1533
As Reported by House Committee On:
Agriculture & Ecology
Title: An act relating to food service regulation.
Brief Description: Regarding food service regulation.
Sponsors: Representatives Linville, G. Chandler, Grant, B. Chandler and Conway.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Agriculture & Ecology: 2/9/01, 2/20/01 [DP].
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Brief Summary of Bill
$Requires the Secretary of Health to create a committee to review state food service rules and to make recommendations to the Legislature and the State Board of Health; and
$Identifies the composition of the committee.
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & ECOLOGY
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 14 members: Representatives G. Chandler, Republican Co‑Chair; Linville, Democratic Co‑Chair; Cooper, Democratic Vice Chair; Mielke, Republican Vice Chair; B. Chandler, Delvin, Dunshee, Grant, Hunt, Kirby, Quall, Roach, Schoesler and Sump.
Staff: Kenneth Hirst (786‑7105).
Background:
The State Board of Health=s standards for food service in this state regulate a wide range of activities and facilities in the food service industry including: food supplies and protection; labeling; food preparation; temperature control; personal hygiene; the design, installation and cleaning of equipment and utensils; poison and toxic materials; pests and pest control; garbage and litter; and inspections, investigations, and enforcement. Local boards of health are authorized to adopt more stringent rules.
Summary of Bill:
The Secretary of Health is directed to create a committee on food service regulation. The committee is composed of: The secretary or the secretary's designee who chairs the committee; four representatives of various segments of the food service industry, appointed by the secretary from names submitted by organizations within the industry; four representatives of local health jurisdictions, appointed by the secretary from names submitted individually or collectively by the local health jurisdictions; and two members of a labor organization appointed by the secretary to represent employees in the food service industry on a statewide basis.
The committee must review the State Board of Health=s food service rules, the objectives of the rules, and the interpretations of the rules made by the Department of Health and by local health jurisdictions throughout the state. By July 1, 2002, the committee must report to the Legislature and the State Board of Health its recommendations regarding: (1) Revisions that should be made to the rules including revisions that should be made that further describe or clarify the requirements of the rules to provide uniform interpretation of the rules throughout the state; and (2) an identification of rules that should apply uniformly throughout the state without local variation.
Staff and administrative support for the work of the committee is to be provided by the Department of Health.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 31, 2001.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: The current food service rules need to be reviewed. The food industry is frustrated by inconsistencies in interpretations of these rules and the lack of movement to review them.
Testimony Against: Although the food service rules need to be reviewed, the Department of Health is just starting the review process with a group that has much broader representation than the committee required in the bill. The committee in the bill should be expanded to include representatives of consumers and others. The authority of local jurisdictions to respond to situations decisively and locally should not be curtailed.
Testified: (In favor) Amy Brackenbury, Washington State Food Industry; and Joe Daniels, United Food and Commercial Workers District Council.
(In favor with concerns): Randy Phillips, Chelan-Douglas Health District.
(Against): Jennifer Tabaldi, Department of Health.