Connecticut House Bill HB06696

Connecticut 2017 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/24/17
• Refer: 1/24/17

Caption

An Act Concerning Grocery Store And Restaurant Donations To Nonprofit And Charitable Organizations.

Impact

If enacted, HB 06696 would amend existing statutes to provide legal protections and guidelines for grocery stores and restaurants when they choose to donate food. The intent is to remove barriers and enhance the safety and feasibility of such donations, potentially increasing the amount of edible food that reaches those in need through various food assistance programs. This change is expected to contribute positively to hunger alleviation efforts within local communities, serving both social and environmental goals.

Summary

House Bill 06696 aims to encourage grocery stores and restaurants to donate unused food and grocery products to nonprofit and charitable organizations. By facilitating these voluntary contributions, the bill seeks to eliminate food waste, which has become an increasing concern in the context of both environmental sustainability and food security. The introduction of the bill reflects a growing trend towards enhancing food recovery efforts and promoting charitable actions among businesses, especially in the food service industry.

Contention

While the bill generally aligns with public health goals and is positioned as a proactive measure to combat food waste, there may be points of contention regarding the implementation of these new guidelines. Stakeholders could raise concerns about liability issues regarding donated food quality and safety. Additionally, while many organizations support the initiative to help ensure that surplus food does not go to waste, others might argue about the adequacy of current food safety standards and whether businesses truly feel incentivized to donate food under these new provisions.