ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 4701

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 10, 2018

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 4701 (1R).

      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 food donations among nonprofit organizations, gleaners, and food retailers in the State.  The online portal will 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.              The online portal is required 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.”

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill has not been certified as requiring a fiscal note.