HB 186-FOOD DONATIONS
3:35:37 PM
CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ announced that the next order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 186, "An Act relating to the donation of food;
and relating to food banks."
3:35:50 PM
ELIJAH VERHAGEN, Staff, Representative Dave Talerico, Alaska
State Legislature, said that the intent of the proposed bill was
to decrease the amount of wasted food in Alaska, and increase
the amount of food donated to charitable organizations and to
food banks. He relayed that the proposed bill added food banks
and charitable organizations to the list of groups able to
receive donations from any businesses that chose to donate, and
that these businesses would be free from liability. He added
that the proposed bill added hot food for donation, which could
be labelled and given to people who would otherwise not have had
the food.
3:36:53 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SULLIVAN-LEONARD commented on the challenges
faced with a large, local store, Fred Meyer, throwing food into
the dumpster instead of making a donation.
MR. VERHAGEN said that there had been discussions with the Food
Bank, and that with passage of the proposed bill, the Food Bank
could speak again with the larger stores, including Fred Meyer.
He stated that there had also been discussions with the
corporate headquarters for a change in their policy.
3:38:16 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SULLIVAN-LEONARD suggested that although this was
opening the door for participation, it was not guaranteeing
this.
3:38:30 PM
CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ opened public testimony.
3:38:58 PM
WILLIAM HARRINGTON, read from a prepared statement, which said,
in part:
to completely absolve someone or an organization of
responsibility in the safe handling of perishable and
potentially toxic food gifted on an unsuspecting
public, is the height of irresponsibility by
government.
MR. HARRINGTON said that spoiled food was not a gift, and that
"the standards imposed by the science of safe food handling must
be enforced through inspection and user responsibility." He
stated that the proposed bill would lead to a mass contamination
with no one responsible, and he shared an anecdote of food
poisoning from a food truck. He asked that those who receive
the food should never be "put at the peril or lose the right to
be completely compensated for harm."
3:41:14 PM
CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ closed public testimony.
3:41:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON moved to report HB 186 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 186 was moved from the
House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.