Bill Text: NJ A4705 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Establishes New Jersey Food Waste Task Force to make recommendations concerning food waste in New Jersey.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 22-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-05-09 - Approved P.L.2019, c.92. [A4705 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-A4705-Amended.html
ASSEMBLY, No. 4705
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
218th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED OCTOBER 29, 2018
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman LINDA S. CARTER
District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Assemblyman PEDRO MEJIA
District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Kennedy, Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle, Assemblyman DeAngelo, Assemblywoman Murphy, Assemblyman Verrelli and Assemblywoman Quijano
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 Assembly Human Services Committee on December 3, 2018, 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 labels1, consistent with uniform national standards,1 to inform consumers 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 twelve members1[, to be appointed as follows: one representative from the Department] . Four members, or their designees, shall serve ex officio as follows: the Commissioner1 of Human Services, 1the President of the1 Community Food Bank of New Jersey, 1the Director of1 Hunger Free New Jersey, 1and the President of the1 New Jersey Food Council1[,] . Eight public members 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;1 and 1(2)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 members1,1 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 require1,1 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.
