S3232

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 examining and making recommendations for legislative or executive action with regard to reducing food waste in this State, including, but not limited to:

(1) preventing food waste;

(2) increasing food donations;

(3) providing consumers with education on food storage;

(4) lowering unreasonably high cosmetic standards for fruit and vegetables;

(5) ceasing to reject even marginally imperfect-looking food;

(6) building Statewide systems to distribute surplus edible food to charities;

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

(8) modifying “best by” food labels to inform consumers the latest possible date food can be safely consumed.

b. The task force shall consist of twelve members, to be appointed as follows: one representative from the Department of Human Services, Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Hunger Free New Jersey, New Jersey Food Council, four major food retailers, and four public members, with two public members appointed by the Governor, one public member appointed by the President of the Senate, and one public member 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 and shall select a chairperson from among the members. 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 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 any 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.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes the New Jersey Food Waste Task Force in the Department of Human Services. The task force is to be responsible for examining and making recommendations for legislative or executive action with regard to reducing food waste in this State, including, but not limited to: (1) preventing food waste; (2) increasing food donations; (3) providing consumers with education on food storage; (4) lowering unreasonably high cosmetic standards for fruit and vegetables; (5) ceasing to reject even marginally imperfect-looking food; (6) building Statewide systems to distribute surplus edible food to charities; (7) eliminating unnecessary State statutes or regulations that contribute to food waste; and (8) modifying “best by” food labels to inform consumers the latest possible date food can be safely consumed.

Under the bill, the task force is to consist of twelve members, to be appointed as follows: one representative from the Department of Human Services, Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Hunger Free New Jersey, New Jersey Food Council, four major food retailers, and four public members, with two public members appointed by the Governor, one public member appointed by the President of the Senate, and one public member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly.

The task force is to organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of its members and select a chairperson from among the members; the chairperson will appoint a secretary, who need not be a member of the task force. Members of the task force are to serve without compensation, but are to be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available. The task force is to 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 and as may be available to it for its purposes. The Department of Human Services is to provide staff support to the task force.

No later than one year after organization, the task force is required to submit to the Governor and to the Legislature a report of

its findings and recommendations for legislative, executive, or any other action as may be appropriate to reduce food waste in New Jersey. The task force will expire upon submission of its report.