05/06/1995 04:02 PM House HES

 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.