Senate Bill #27 (2019)

AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS - FOOD DONATIONS

Repeals the current chapter of the general laws regarding immunity for food donors to food banks, and would adopt a new chapter with comprehensive immunity provisions for persons involved in donating food to food banks.

View latest version | View original version
View status on official RI website

Subscribe to email updates

Changes since original draft

  • 2019 – S 0027
  • 2019 – S 0027 SUBSTITUTE A
  • ========
  • LC000467
  • LC000467/SUB A
  • ========
  • S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
  • IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  • JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019
  • ____________
  • A N A C T
  • RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS - FOOD DONATIONS
  • Introduced By: Senators Lombardi, McCaffrey, Felag, Ciccone, and Lombardo
  • Date Introduced: January 15, 2019
  • Referred To: Senate Judiciary
  • It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
  • SECTION 1. Chapter 21-34 of the General Laws entitled "Food Donations" is hereby repealed in its entirety.
  • CHAPTER 21-34
  • Food Donations
  • 21-34-1. Immunity from liability for food donors.
  • A person, or organization including, but not limited to, a farmer, a processor, distributor, wholesaler, or retailer of food, or restaurant, or accredited culinary arts school, who in good faith donates food, including surplus, prepared food that has been maintained at a safe temperature, which appears to be fit for human consumption at the time it is donated to a bona fide charitable or nonprofit organization for the use or distribution to the needy shall not be liable for civil damages or criminal penalties for any injury or illness resulting from the nature, age, condition, or packaging of the donated food unless the injury or illness is a direct result of the intentional misconduct or recklessness of the donor.
  • 21-34-2. Immunity from liability for distributors.
  • A bona fide nonprofit or charitable organization which in good faith receives, prepares and distributes to the needy, without charge, food which appears to be fit for human consumption at the time it is distributed, including food prepared on the premises of the organization, shall not be liable for civil damages or criminal penalties for any injury or illness resulting from the nature, age, condition, or packaging of the food unless the injury or illness is a direct result of the intentional misconduct or recklessness of the organization.
  • 21-34-3. Authority of department of health not restricted.
  • Nothing contained in this chapter is intended to restrict the authority of the department of health to regulate or ban the use of donated food.
  • SECTION 2. Title 21 of the General Laws entitled "FOOD AND DRUGS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
  • CHAPTER 34.1
  • RHODE ISLAND FOOD DONATION ACT
  • 21-34.1-1. Short title.
  • This chapter shall be known, and may be cited as "The Rhode Island Food Donation Act."
  • 21-34.1-2. Definitions.
  • For the purposes of this section:
  • For the purposes of this chapter:
  • (1) "Director" means director of department of health.
  • (2) "Enforcement officers" means authorized agents of the director responsible for inspecting food, food establishments, dairies or foodborne disease outbreaks.
  • (3) "Food bank" means a surplus food collection and distribution system operated and established to assist in bringing donated food to nonprofit charitable organizations and individuals for the purposes of reducing hunger and supplying nutritional needs.
  • (4)"Food facility" means a food establishment that sells food for human consumption to the general public.
  • (3) "Food bank" means a surplus food collection and distribution system operated and established to assist in bringing donated food to nonprofit charitable organizations and individuals for the purposes of reducing hunger and supplying nutritional needs.
  • (4)"Food facility" means a food establishment that sells food for human consumption to the general public and shall include nonprofit food distributors, hospitals, and school and educational facilities.
  • (5) "Gleaner" means a person who harvests for free distribution to the needy, or for donation to a nonprofit organization for ultimate distribution to the needy, an agricultural crop that has been donated by the owner.
  • (6) "Person" means an individual, school, local educational agency, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, organization, association, or governmental entity, including a retail grocer, wholesaler, hotel, motel, manufacturer, restaurant, caterer, farmer, and nonprofit food distributor or hospital. In the case of a corporation, partnership, organization, association, or governmental entity, the term includes an officer, director, partner, manager or managing member, deacon, trustee, council member, or other elected or appointed individual responsible for the governance of the entity.
  • (6) "Person" means an individual.
  • 21-34.1-3. Immunity from liability for food donors.
  • (a) A person, gleaner, or food facility may donate food to a food bank or to any other nonprofit charitable organization for distribution to persons free of charge. Food facilities may donate food directly to end recipients for consumption.
  • (b) Except for injury resulting from gross negligence or intentional misconduct in the preparation or handling of donated food, no person, gleaner, or food facility that donates food that is fit for human consumption at the time it was donated to a nonprofit charitable organization or food bank shall be liable for any damage or injury resulting from the consumption of the donated food. Food facilities may donate food directly to end recipients for consumption.
  • (c) The immunity from civil liability provided by this chapter applies regardless of compliance with any laws, regulations, or ordinances regulating the packaging or labeling of food, and regardless of compliance with any laws, regulations, or ordinances regulating the storage or handling of the food by the donee after the donation of the food. The donation of nonperishable food that is fit for human consumption but that has exceeded the labeled shelf life date recommended by the manufacturer is protected under the Rhode Island food donation act. The donation of perishable food that is fit for human consumption but that has exceeded the labeled shelf life date recommended by the manufacturer is protected under the Rhode Island food donation act if the person that distributes the food to the end recipient makes a good faith evaluation that the food to be donated is wholesome.
  • (d) A nonprofit charitable organization or a food bank that, in good faith, receives and distributes food without charge that is fit for human consumption at the time it was distributed is not liable for an injury or death due to the food unless the injury or death is a direct result of the gross negligence or intentional misconduct of the organization.
  • (e) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit the ability of a person, gleaner, or food facility to donate food.
  • (f) A person or gleaner engaged in the business of processing, distributing, or selling an agricultural product may donate, free of charge, a product that is in a condition that it may be used as food for human consumption to a nonprofit charitable organization within the state. Food facilities may donate food directly to end recipients for consumption. The donation of nonperishable food that is fit for human consumption, but that has exceeded the labeled shelf life date recommended by the manufacturer is protected under the Rhode Island food donation act. The donation of perishable food that is fit for human consumption, but that has exceeded the labeled shelf life date recommended by the manufacturer is protected under the Rhode Island food donation act if the person that distributes the food to the end recipient makes a good faith evaluation that the food to be donated is wholesome.
  • (g) To assist in accomplishing the purposes of this chapter, the director may redistribute donated agricultural products to organizations operating pursuant to this chapter.
  • (b) Except for injury resulting from gross negligence or intentional misconduct in the preparation or handling of donated food, no person, gleaner, or food facility that donates food that is fit for human consumption at the time it was donated to a nonprofit charitable organization or food bank shall be liable for any damage or injury resulting from the consumption of the donated food. Food facilities may donate food directly to end recipients for consumption.
  • (c) The immunity from civil liability provided by this chapter applies regardless of compliance with any laws, regulations, or ordinances regulating the packaging or labeling of food, and regardless of compliance with any laws, regulations, or ordinances regulating the storage or handling of the food by the donee after the donation of the food. The donation of nonperishable food that is fit for human consumption but that has exceeded the labeled shelf life date recommended by the manufacturer is protected under the Rhode Island food donation act. The donation of perishable food that is fit for human consumption but that has exceeded the labeled shelf life date recommended by the manufacturer is protected under the Rhode Island food donation act if the person that distributes the food to the end recipient makes a good faith evaluation that the food to be donated is wholesome.
  • (d) A nonprofit charitable organization or a food bank that, in good faith, receives and distributes food without charge that is fit for human consumption at the time it was distributed is not liable for an injury or death due to the food unless the injury or death is a direct result of the gross negligence or intentional misconduct of the organization.
  • (e) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit the ability of a person, gleaner, or food facility to donate food.
  • (f) A person or gleaner engaged in the business of processing, distributing, or selling an agricultural product may donate, free of charge, a product that is in a condition that it may be used as food for human consumption to a nonprofit charitable organization within the state. Food facilities may donate food directly to end recipients for consumption. The donation of nonperishable food that is fit for human consumption, but that has exceeded the labeled shelf life date recommended by the manufacturer is protected under the Rhode Island food donation act. The donation of perishable food that is fit for human consumption, but that has exceeded the labeled shelf life date recommended by the manufacturer is protected under the Rhode Island food donation act if the person that distributes the food to the end recipient makes a good faith evaluation that the food to be donated is wholesome.
  • (g) To assist in accomplishing the purposes of this chapter, the director may redistribute donated agricultural products to organizations operating pursuant to this chapter.
  • 21-34.1-4. Expiration dates.
  • A person, gleaner, or food facility that donates food as permitted by law shall not be subject to civil or criminal liability or penalty for violation of any laws, regulations, or ordinances regulating the labeling or packaging of the donated product or, with respect to any other laws, regulations, or ordinances, for a violation occurring after the time of the donation. The donation of nonperishable food that is fit for human consumption but that has exceeded the labeled shelf life date recommended by the manufacturer is protected under the Rhode Island food donation act. The donation of perishable food that is fit for human consumption but that has exceeded the labeled shelf life date recommended by the manufacturer is protected under the Rhode Island food donation act if the person that distributes the food to the end recipient makes a good faith evaluation that the food to be donated is wholesome.
  • 21-34.1-5. Public education.
  • In implementing this chapter, enforcement officers shall promote the recovery of food fit for human consumption during their normal, routine inspections. Promotion shall include, but not be limited to, newsletters, bulletins, and handouts that inform retail food facility operators about the protections from civil and criminal liability when donating food.
  • 21-34.1-6. Implementing rules and regulations.
  • The director shall adopt rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this chapter.
  • SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
  • ========
  • LC000467
  • LC000467/SUB A
  • ========
  • EXPLANATION
  • BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
  • OF
  • A N A C T
  • RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS - FOOD DONATIONS
  • ***
  • This act would repeal the current chapter of the general laws regarding immunity for food donors to food banks, and would adopt a new chapter with comprehensive immunity provisions for persons involved in donating food to food banks.
  • This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC000467 ========
  • This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC000467/SUB A ========

Votes

NOTE: Electronic voting records are unofficial and may not be accurate. For an official vote tally, check the House or Senate Journal from the day of the vote.

Floor vote for Passage

June 06, 2019 at 5:01pm
Yeas: 36 / Nays: 0 / Not voting: 2 / Recused: 0
Legislator Vote
Sen. Algiere Y
Sen. Archambault Y
Sen. Bell Y
Sen. Cano Y
Sen. Ciccone NV
Sen. Conley Y
Sen. Coyne Y
Sen. Crowley Y
Sen. Cruz Y
Sen. DiPalma Y
Sen. Euer Y
Sen. Felag Y
Sen. Gallo Y
Sen. Goldin Y
Sen. Goodwin Y
Sen. Lawson Y
Sen. Lombardi Y
Sen. Lombardo Y
Sen. Lynch Prata Y
Sen. McCaffrey Y
Sen. McKenney Y
Sen. Metts Y
Sen. Miller Y
Sen. Morgan Y
Sen. Murray Y
Sen. Nesselbush Y
Sen. Paolino Y
Sen. Pearson Y
Sen. Picard NV
Sen. Quezada Y
Sen. Raptakis Y
Sen. Rogers Y
Sen. Ruggerio Y
Sen. Satchell Y
Sen. Seveney Y
Sen. Sheehan Y
Sen. Sosnowski Y
Sen. Valverde Y