SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5675

As of February 5, 2001

Title:  An act relating to food service regulation.

Brief Description:  Regarding food service regulation.

Sponsors:  Senators Rasmussen and Morton.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Agriculture & International Trade:  2/7/01.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Staff:  Bob Lee (786‑7404)

Background:  The State Board of Health is composed of ten members including the secretary of the Department of Health.  The State Board of Health is granted statutory authority to adopt public health related rules for food service establishments.

The food service rules adopted by the State Board of Health cover a wide range of activities including food preparation, protection from contamination, temperature control and cooking requirements, sanitary design of equipment and utensils, cleaning, worker sanitation, and pest control.

By statute, local health boards, health authorities, and officials are to enforce the rules adopted by the State Board of Health.  Department of Health rules provide for a local board of health to adopt regulations more stringent than the current state rules.

Summary of Bill:  An eleven member committee is created to review current state food service rules and interpretations of rules by local health jurisdictions.

The committee is chaired by the secretary of the Department of Health or the secretary=s designee. The remainder of the committee is composed of the following:

(a)Four members from various segments of the food service industry appointed by the secretary from nominees submitted by organizations within the industry;

(b)Four representatives of local health jurisdictions appointed by the secretary from nominees submitted by the local health jurisdictions; and

(c)Two members of a labor organization appointed by the secretary to represent employees in the food service industry.

The committee must develop recommendations on updating food service rules, revision of requirements that will likely provide uniform interpretation, and those rules that should apply uniformly throughout the state without local variation.

The committee is staffed by the Department of Health.  A report of recommendations by the committee must be submitted to the Legislature and the State Board of Health by July 1, 2002.  The act terminates December 31, 2002.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 30, 2001.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.