Source: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=69.80&full=true
Timestamp: 2020-08-11 02:42:46
Document Index: 134755906

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1', '§ 2', '§ 36', '§ 4', '§ 2', '§ 38', '§ 5']

Chapter 69.80 RCW: FOOD DONATION AND DISTRIBUTION—LIABILITY
RCWs > Title 69 > Chapter 69.80
Chapter 69.80 RCW
FOOD DONATION AND DISTRIBUTION—LIABILITY
69.80.010 Purpose.
69.80.020 Definitions.
69.80.031 Good samaritan food donation act—Definitions—Collecting, distributing, gleaning—Liability.
69.80.040 Information and referral service for food donation program.
69.80.050 Inspection of donated food by state and local agencies—Variance.
69.80.060 Safe receipt, preparation, and handling of donated food—Rules—Educational materials.
69.80.900 Construction.
RCW 69.80.010
The purpose of this chapter is to promote the free distribution of food to needy persons, prevent waste of food products, and provide liability protection for persons and organizations donating or distributing such food products.
[ 1983 c 241 § 1.]
RCW 69.80.020
(1) "Distributing organization" means a charitable nonprofit organization under section 501(c) of the federal internal revenue code which distributes food free of charge and includes any nonprofit organization that distributes food free of charge to other nonprofit organizations or to the public.
(2) "Donor" means a person, corporation, association, or other organization which donates food to a distributing organization. "Donor" includes, but is not limited to, farmers, processors, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers of food. "Donor" also includes persons who harvest agricultural crops or perishable foods which have been donated by the owner to a distributing organization.
(3) "Food" means food products for human consumption as defined in RCW 69.04.008.
[ 1983 c 241 § 2.]
RCW 69.80.031
Good samaritan food donation act—Definitions—Collecting, distributing, gleaning—Liability.
(1) This section may be cited as the "good samaritan food donation act."
(a) "Apparently fit grocery product" means a grocery product that meets all quality and labeling standards imposed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations even though the product may not be readily marketable due to appearance, age, freshness, grade, size, surplus, or other conditions.
(b) "Apparently wholesome food" means food that meets all quality and labeling standards imposed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations even though the food may not be readily marketable due to appearance, age, freshness, grade, size, surplus, or other conditions.
(c) "Donate" means to give without requiring anything of monetary value from the recipient, except that the term shall include giving by a nonprofit organization to another nonprofit organization, notwithstanding that the donor organization has charged a nominal fee to the donee organization, if the ultimate recipient or user is not required to give anything of monetary value.
(d) "Food" means a raw, cooked, processed, or prepared edible substance, ice, beverage, or ingredient used or intended for use in whole or in part for human consumption.
(e) "Gleaner" means a person who harvests for free distribution to the needy, or for donation to a nonprofit organization for ultimate distribution to the needy, an agricultural crop that has been donated by the owner.
(f) "Grocery product" means a nonfood grocery product, including a disposable paper or plastic product, household cleaning product, laundry detergent, cleaning product, or miscellaneous household item.
(g) "Gross negligence" means voluntary and conscious conduct by a person with knowledge, at the time of the conduct, that the conduct is likely to be harmful to the health or well-being of another person.
(i) Is operating for religious, charitable, or educational purposes; and
(ii) Does not provide net earnings to, or operate in any other manner that inures to the benefit of, any officer, employee, or shareholder of the entity.
(j) "Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, organization, association, or governmental entity, including a retail grocer, wholesaler, hotel, motel, manufacturer, restaurant, caterer, farmer, and nonprofit food distributor or hospital. In the case of a corporation, partnership, organization, association, or governmental entity, the term includes an officer, director, partner, deacon, trustee, councilmember, or other elected or appointed individual responsible for the governance of the entity.
(3) A person or gleaner is not subject to civil or criminal liability arising from the nature, age, packaging, or condition of apparently wholesome food or an apparently fit grocery product that the person or gleaner donates in good faith to a nonprofit organization for ultimate distribution to needy individuals, except that this subsection does not apply to an injury to or death of an ultimate user or recipient of the food or grocery product that results from an act or omission of the donor constituting gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
(4) A person who allows the collection or gleaning of donations on property owned or occupied by the person by gleaners, or paid or unpaid representatives of a nonprofit organization, for ultimate distribution to needy individuals is not subject to civil or criminal liability that arises due to the injury or death of the gleaner or representative, except that this subsection does not apply to an injury or death that results from an act or omission of the person constituting gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
(5) If some or all of the donated food and grocery products do not meet all quality and labeling standards imposed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations, the person or gleaner who donates the food and grocery products is not subject to civil or criminal liability in accordance with this section if the nonprofit organization that receives the donated food or grocery products:
(a) Is informed by the donor of the distressed or defective condition of the donated food or grocery products;
(b) Agrees to recondition the donated food or grocery products to comply with all the quality and labeling standards prior to distribution; and
(c) Is knowledgeable of the standards to properly recondition the donated food or grocery product.
(6) This section may not be construed to create liability.
[ 1994 c 299 § 36.]
RCW 69.80.040
Information and referral service for food donation program.
The department of agriculture shall maintain an information and referral service for persons and organizations that have notified the department of their desire to participate in the food donation program under this chapter.
[ 1983 c 241 § 4.]
RCW 69.80.060
Safe receipt, preparation, and handling of donated food—Rules—Educational materials.
(1) No later than December 31, 2004, the state board of health shall promulgate rules for the safe receipt, preparation, and handling by distributing organizations of food accepted from donors in order to facilitate the donation of food, free of charge, and to protect the health and safety of needy people.
(2) No later than December 31, 2004, the department of health, in consultation with the state board of health, shall develop educational materials for donors containing recommended health and safety guidelines for the preparation and handling of food donated to distributing organizations.
[ 2002 c 217 § 2.]
Finding—Purpose—2002 c 217: See note following RCW 69.80.050.
RCW 69.80.900
Nothing in this chapter may be construed to create any liability of, or penalty against a donor or distributing organization except as provided in RCW 69.80.031.
[ 1994 c 299 § 38; 1983 c 241 § 5.]