Bill Text: NJ S3232 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Establishes New Jersey Food Waste Task Force to make recommendations concerning food waste in New Jersey.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-21 - Substituted by A4705 (3R) [S3232 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2018-S3232-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 3232

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED NOVEMBER 26, 2018

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  BOB SMITH

District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)

Senator  RICHARD J. CODEY

District 27 (Essex and Morris)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Senators Greenstein and Madden

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes New Jersey Food Waste Task Force to make recommendations concerning food waste in New Jersey.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on January 31, 2019, with amendments.

 

An Act establishing the New Jersey Food Waste Task Force.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    a.  There is established in the Department of Human Services the New Jersey Food Waste Task Force, which shall be responsible for ¹identifying and¹ examining ¹[and making recommendations for legislative or executive action with regard to reducing food waste in this State, including, but not limited to] the factors that lead to food waste in the State, and identifying strategies, policies, and legislative and executive actions that may be used to¹:

     (1)   ¹[preventing] prevent¹ food waste;

     (2)   ¹[increasing] increase¹ food donations;

     (3)   ¹[providing] provide¹ consumers with education on food storage;

     (4)   ¹[lowering] lower¹ unreasonably high cosmetic standards for fruit and vegetables;

     (5)   ¹[ceasing to reject] cease or significantly reduce the rejection of¹ even marginally imperfect-looking food;

     (6)   ¹[building] build¹ Statewide systems to distribute surplus edible food to charities;

     (7)   ¹[eliminating] eliminate¹ unnecessary State statutes or regulations that contribute to food waste; and

     (8)   ¹[modifying] modify¹ "best by" food labels ¹, consistent with uniform national standards,¹ to inform consumers ¹of¹ the latest possible date food can be safely consumed.

     ¹The work undertaken by the task force shall supplement and be consistent with existing efforts and commitments to reduce food waste, including food donation efforts, composting efforts, date labeling efforts, and effective inventory management practices, which have been, or are being, undertaken at the national level pursuant to a uniform, nationwide model.¹

     b.    The task force shall consist of ¹[twelve] 14¹ members, ¹[to be appointed as follows: one representative from the Department] including the Commissioner¹ of Human Services, ¹[Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Hunger Free New Jersey, New Jersey Food Council,] the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, or their designees, who shall serve ex officio; and 11 public members, who shall be appointed as follows:  (1) one representative each from¹  four major food retailers, ¹two of whom shall be appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, and one of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; (2) three public members appointed by the Governor, with one member to be appointed upon recommendation by the President of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, one member to be appointed upon recommendation by the Director of Hunger Free New Jersey, and one member to be appointed upon recommendation by the President of the New Jersey Food Council;¹ and ¹(3)¹ four ¹[public members, with two public members] private citizens with relevant expertise in food waste issues or food management practices, two of whom shall be¹ appointed by the Governor, one ¹[public member] of whom shall be¹ appointed by the President of the Senate, and one ¹[public member] of whom shall be¹ appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly. 

     c.     Vacancies in the membership of the task force shall be filled as provided for the original appointments.

     d.    The task force shall organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of its members ¹,¹ and shall select a chairperson from among ¹[the members] its membership¹.  The chairperson shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the task force.

     e.     Members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the task force, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the task force for its purposes.

     f.     The task force shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require ¹,¹ and as may be available to it for its purposes.

     g.    The Department of Human Services shall provide staff support to the task force.

     h.    No later than one year after organization, the task force shall submit to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), a report of its findings and recommendations for legislative, executive, or ¹[any]¹ other action as may be appropriate to reduce food waste in this State.  The task force shall expire upon submission of its report.

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.