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Committee backs bill to ease food-service requirements for churches, nonprofits after disasters
Summary
House Bill 186, which would streamline requirements so churches and nonprofits can provide prepared food to homeless shelters or disaster-displaced persons without industrial kitchens, passed the Senate Agriculture Committee by voice vote.
House Bill 186, presented by State Representative Robert Duvall, was reported favorably by the Kentucky Senate Committee on Agriculture. Duvall told the committee the bill “streamlines the process for churches and for nonprofits to be able to provide food for homeless shelters or for individuals who have been displaced due to a declared natural disaster.”
Duvall said the bill would reduce regulatory barriers that currently require an industrial-grade kitchen and specific plumbing for organizations that want to serve simple meals; as an example, he said the current rules would cover making a “fried bologna sandwich.” "As long as the food is safe and apparently wholesome, we should not impose restrictive government regulations upon our churches and non profits," Duvall said.
The committee had a motion and second to pass the bill (second by Senator Deneen) and the roll call recorded ayes from committee members. Several senators asked to "explain my yes vote" during the roll call, and the chair recorded the bill as passing out of committee. No fiscal note or detailed implementation mechanics were read into the committee record during the hearing.
