BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 724 Page 1 ASSEMBLY THIRD READING AB 724 (Dodd) As Amended April 20, 2015 Majority vote -------------------------------------------------------------------- |Committee |Votes |Ayes |Noes | |----------------+------+-----------------------+--------------------| |Health |19-0 |Bonta, Maienschein, | | | | |Bonilla, Burke, | | | | |Chávez, Chiu, Gomez, | | | | |Gonzalez, Roger | | | | |Hernández, Lackey, | | | | |Nazarian, Patterson, | | | | |Ridley-Thomas, | | | | |Rodriguez, Santiago, | | | | |Steinorth, Thurmond, | | | | |Waldron, Wood | | -------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Adds district fairs as a type of "community event" in the California Retail Food Code (CRFC). FISCAL EFFECT: None COMMENTS: According to the author, this bill harmonizes the definition of district fairs across the state and in doing so provides for uniform and equitable enforcement of health code. AB 724 Page 2 County environmental health divisions are given a large degree of discretion in the CRFC to determine best practices at all categories of food facilities. While this local discretion is critical in ensuring food safety across different regions, it has also resulted in uneven enforcement of regulations across the state. The author states variability between counties has created difficulty for events that operate in more than one county. BACKGROUND. The CRFC is patterned after the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Code, which is a model for local, state, and federal jurisdictions that are responsible for ensuring food safety. According to the FDA, the Food Code represents the FDA's best advice, updated every four years, for a uniform system of provisions that address the safety and protection of food offered at retail and in food service. Forty-eight states and territories have adopted food codes patterned after the FDA Food Code, representing over 80% of the United States population. District Fairs. District fairs, also known as District Agricultural Associations (DAAs) are within the network of California fairs and expositions. DAAs are largely the same as county fairs, although DAAs have more strict reporting requirements to the California Department of Food and Agriculture because they are a state entity, while county fairs are operated through a contract with the County Board of Supervisors or other local government. Among the 78 California fairs there are 52 DAAs, 23 county fairs, two Citrus Fruit Fairs, and the California Exposition and State Fair. Analysis Prepared by: Dharia McGrew / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097 FN: 0000222 AB 724 Page 3