ASSEMBLY HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4701

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  NOVEMBER 29, 2018

     The Assembly Human Services Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 4701.

     As amended by the committee, 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 is to function, in a manner that maximizes communication among all entities that wish to donate and receive surplus food within the State, in order to minimize the amount of surplus food that is wasted.  The online portal is to provide real-time information on surplus food resources, and identify the logistical resource needs of donors and food banks, and gleaners and non-profit organizations that transport donated food.  In providing that information, the online portal would 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 is to 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, which are 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 webpage, maintained by the Department of Agriculture, which provides guidance 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 the webpage, maintained by the Department of Agriculture, which provides information on "New Jersey Gleaning Week" and "Farmers Against Hunger Day.”

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to make technical changes, in order to fix a citation, clarify language, and correct grammar and punctuation.