Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Agriculture & Ecology Committee

HB 1533

Brief Description:  Regarding food service regulation.

Sponsors:  Representatives Linville, G. Chandler, Grant, B. Chandler and Conway.

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.

Hearing Date:  February 9, 2001.

Staff:  Kenneth Hirst (786‑7105).

Background: 

The State Board of Health=s standards for food service in this state are codified as Chapter 246-215 WAC.  These rules 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:

$Revisions that should be made to update the rules or to respond to other changes in food service regulatory requirements recommended by the committee;

$Revisions that should be made to the rules that further describe or clarify the requirements of the rules to provide uniform interpretation of the rules throughout the state; and

$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.