HB 119: EXEMPT SCHOOLS FROM CERTAIN DEC FEES Number 045 REPRESENTATIVE GENE KUBINA, sponsor of the bill, said HB 119 would merely exempt school districts from paying the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to have district kitchens inspected. It would save the districts statewide about $25,000. Number 084 CO-CHAIR TOOHEY asked for further public testimony. Hearing none, the hearing was closed to public testimony. Co-Chair Toohey stated that this problem could be easily solved by the DEC simply training a staff person in each school kitchen to do the DEC's inspection job. That would eliminate the need to visit each school. It would save money and time for all involved. REPRESENTATIVE GARY DAVIS thought each school district does have someone overseeing the operations of each kitchen. It is not to anyone's benefit to have the possibility of disease in any kitchen. Representative Davis is not so sure that a monthly or yearly inspection by a state official is going to have any more affect on cleanliness than in-house inspections that already occur. CO-CHAIR TOOHEY announced that Representative Rokeberg arrived at 4:03 p.m. Number 180 REPRESENTATIVE NORMAN ROKEBERG asked if the DEC would still make the inspections if this bill were to pass. REPRESENTATIVE KUBINA answered yes, the inspections would still be made. Number 212 REPRESENTATIVE TOM BRICE moved HB 119 with accompanying fiscal note and individual recommendations. Hearing no objection, HB 119 was passed out of the House HESS Committee.