BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1258
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 1258 (Strom Martin)
As Amended April 15, 1999
Majority vote
HEALTH 14-0 APPROPRIATIONS 21-0
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|Ayes:|Gallegos, Granlund, |Ayes:|Migden, Brewer, Ashburn, |
| |Aanestad, Bates, Corbett, | |Campbell, Cedillo, Davis, |
| |Firebaugh, Kuehl, | |Granlund, Hertzberg, |
| |Steinberg, Strickland, | |Kuehl, Maldonado, Papan, |
| |Thomson, Vincent, Wayne, | |Romero, Runner, Shelley, |
| |Wildman, Zettel | |Steinberg, Thomson, |
| | | |Wesson, Wiggins, Wright, |
| | | |Zettel, Washington |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Provides for the regulation of agricultural homestays,
as defined, and expands the definition of "restricted food
service transient occupancy establishment" (RFSTOE) to include
an agricultural homestay. Specifically, this bill :
1)Expands the definition of RFSTOE to include an agricultural
homestay establishment.
2)Defines RFSTOE to include an agricultural homestay
establishment that meets all of the following requirements:
a) No more than six guest rooms or 15 guests;
b) Provides overnight transient accommodations;
c) Serves food only to its registered guests and serves
meals at any time, and with respect to which the price of
food is included in the price of the overnight transient
occupancy accommodation;
d) Lodging and meals are incidental and not the primary
function of the agricultural homestay establishment; and,
e) The agricultural homestay establishment is located on,
and is a part of, a farm, as defined, and produces
agricultural products as its primary source of income.
AB 1258
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EXISTING LAW :
1)Regulates, under the California Uniform Retail Food Facilities
Law (CURFFL), sanitary standards in retail food establishments
and governs the general sanitation requirements for RFSTOEs.
2)Defines RFSTOE to mean an establishment of 20 guestrooms or
less, that provides overnight transient occupancy
accommodations; serves food only to its registered guests;
serves only a breakfast or similar early morning meal, and no
other meals; and with respect to which the price of food is
included in the price of the overnight transient occupancy
accommodation.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee analysis, minor savings to local health officers by
applying less stringent regulatory requirements to agricultural
homestay establishments.
COMMENTS : The Community Alliance with Family Farmers and the
California Farm Bureau are sponsoring this bill. According to
the author, farmers throughout the state are expressing a
growing interest in offering agricultural homestays, in which
visitors spend several days on a farm, observing or taking part
in farm-related activities and exploring the surrounding
countryside and towns. Such stays include lodging and meals
taken with the farm family. Unfortunately, such agricultural
homestay establishments are not currently permissible under
California's retail food laws. In order to offer meals to
guests, farmers would need to effectively build a separate
restaurant, conforming to all the regulations governing such
places. However, bed and breakfast establishments (B&Bs),
currently referred to as RFSTOEs, are exempt from some of the
requirements for a retail food service facility, as long as they
have 20 rooms or fewer and serve only one morning meal to
guests. Despite these limited exemptions, RFSTOEs still have to
conform to substantial health and safety requirements. This
bill is necessary for agricultural homestay establishments to
operate as RFSTOEs, without the unmanageable burden of becoming
a retail food service facility.
California's farms are located in some of the most scenic
landscapes in the state. According to the author, visitors from
across the country have been seeking ways to explore and enjoy
AB 1258
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the state's agricultural regions. Likewise, small, family
farmers have been looking for ways to diversify their incomes in
order to stay on the land and continue farming. Rural
communities have been seeking ways to add to their service
economies and attract tourist dollars. There has also been a
growing desire on the part of farmers and rural communities to
increase the understanding of farming and rural lifestyles. The
combination of these two desires has led to the growth of
"agri-tourism." "Pick-your-own farms," tours, food-oriented
programs such as Sonoma Farm Trails, and other farm-related
activities have been growing in number and popularity. While
this is a growing phenomenon, it has yet to hit its full stride.
Homestays are popular in Italy, Ireland, Australia, New
Zealand, and elsewhere throughout the world.
Analysis Prepared by : Ellen McCormick / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097
FN: 0000653