Bill > A4701

Introduced Session

This bill requires the Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health, to create, maintain, and update, as appropriate, an online portal, in the form of an Internet website, and links to information, as provided in the bill, to facilitate collaboration of surplus food donations among nonprofit organizations, gleaners, and food retailers in the State. The online portal is to be designed and function in a manner that maximizes communication among all entities that wish to donate and receive surplus food within the State to minimize the amount of surplus food that is wasted. The online portal is to provide real-time information on surplus food resources as well as the logistical resource needs of surplus food from donors, food banks, and gleaners and non-profit organizations that transport donated food and, in providing that information, is to serve as an online logistics chain for the movement of surplus food throughout the State. The bill allows the online portal to be hosted by a nonprofit organization pursuant to an agreement entered into between the Department of Human Services and a nonprofit organization. A nonprofit organization hosting the online portal is to understand the needs of the diverse food donors and recipients of donated food and adhere to certain food safety measures listed in the bill. The online portal is to include, but not be limited to: (1) the name and contact information of a donor and a description of the surplus food available for donation or the food needing to be gleaned, as appropriate; (2) the name and contact information of a nonprofit organization available to receive surplus food to be donated or gleaned; (3) links to certain federal laws and the model code concerning food safety listed in the bill; (4) a statement describing the provisions of the "Food Bank Good Samaritan Act" and that act's liability protections available for food donations, gleaning, and other related activities; (5) a link to the Department of Agriculture's guidance document that provides information to farmers, food banks, surplus food donors, nonprofit organizations, and other persons in the State and information on the federal liability protections available for food donations, gleaning, and other related activities; and (6) a link to Department of Agriculture's web page for "New Jersey Gleaning Week" and "Farmers Against Hunger Day," for the purposes of educating the public on food insecurity and food waste, recognizing the need of many New Jersey households for fresh, healthy foods, and informing the public of any events offered during "New Jersey Gleaning Week" and "Farmers Against Hunger Day."

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Nicholas Chiaravalloti (D)*,  Sandra Cunningham (D)*,  Raj Mukherji (D)*,  Annette Quijano (D)*,  Teresa Ruiz (D)*,  Bill Spearman (D)*,  Craig Coughlin (D),  Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D),  JoAnn Downey (D),  Pam Lampitt (D),  Yvonne Lopez (D),  Fred Madden (D),  Angela Mcknight (D),  Gabriela Mosquera (D),  Carol Murphy (D),  Parker Space (R),  Cleopatra Tucker (D),  Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D),  Anthony Verrelli (D),  Harold Wirths (R), 

Approved P.L.2019, c.54. (on 03/18/2019)