04/07/2000 09:09 AM Senate FIN

SENATE BILL NO. 271                                                                                                             
"An Act relating to fees charged for inspections by                                                                             
the Department of Environmental Conservation; and                                                                               
providing for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
This was the fifth hearing for this bill in the Senate                                                                          
Finance Committee.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
DARWIN PETERSON, staff to the Senate Finance Committee                                                                          
addressed the proposed committee substitute, 1-LS1223\H,                                                                        
and noted the major changes made to the bill based on                                                                           
remarks made at the previous hearing.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Peterson noted the first change as reflected on page                                                                        
one of the committee substitute, gave the definition of                                                                         
"mobile food unit" as a facility "that serves only                                                                              
beverages and prepackaged food that are from an improved                                                                        
source and are not potentially hazardous.". He said this                                                                        
essentially refers to espresso carts.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Peterson continued with the second change shown on page                                                                     
2, lines 17 through 19. This language, he said further                                                                          
defines that buildings housing more than one establishment                                                                      
and share the same kitchen would be charged only one                                                                            
inspection fee. He gave as an example, a bar and restaurant                                                                     
that share the same kitchen. He noted that if the bar and                                                                       
restaurant have separate kitchens, they would be charged                                                                        
separate inspection fees.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Peterson pointed out that the make-up of the Food                                                                           
Safety Advisory Group was changed on page 3, lines 6 and 7                                                                      
of the committee substitute. Instead of having the members                                                                      
of the group selected by the commissioner of the Department                                                                     
of Environmental Conservation, he stated the Speaker of the                                                                     
House of Representatives and the President of the Senate                                                                        
would select the members.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Peterson added that the legislature's Regulation Review                                                                     
Committee would now be responsible for staffing the Food                                                                        
Safety Advisory Group as stipulated in language on page 3,                                                                      
lines 14 through 16.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Peterson noted an additional change that was present in                                                                     
both the previous committee substitute and this proposed                                                                        
committee substitute establishing the effective date at                                                                         
January 1, 2001, by request of the department.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator Green noticed the language pertaining to the Food                                                                       
Safety Advisory Group did not address notices of upcoming                                                                       
meetings to the staff. She was concerned that the group                                                                         
might hold meetings without notifying the staff.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Torgerson knew of no specific language other than                                                                      
the Open Meetings Act that pertains to notices of meetings.                                                                     
He commented that it would not always be necessary to have                                                                      
staff present at these meetings. He hoped the group would                                                                       
get together on it's own. However, he stressed that when                                                                        
official recommendations are made, the Regulation Review                                                                        
Committee staff needs to write the regulations to present                                                                       
to the legislature.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Senator Green relayed that if she were a staff member of                                                                        
the Regulation Review Committee, she would want to attend                                                                       
the meetings and be involved in the formation of                                                                                
regulations.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Leman moved to adopt CS SB 271, 1-LS1223\H as a                                                                         
workdraft. It was adopted without objection.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Leman then offered a motion to report CS SB 271, 1-                                                                     
LS1223\H from Committee with forthcoming fiscal note from                                                                       
the Department of Environmental Conservation. Without                                                                           
objection, the bill MOVED FROM COMMITTEE.