1 Purpose and Findings. The general court finds that food waste represents a lost opportunity to feed the hungry, is an economic loss to purchasers, occupies needed space in our landfills, and generates greenhouse gases as it decomposes. Estimates indicate that approximately 20 percent of the solid waste disposed of is food waste. This working group is being created to review existing regulations and policies to reduce food waste by increasing food recovery, and to identify regulatory hurdles that impede the sharing of food with the hungry.

2 New Subdivision; Food Recovery Working Group. Amend RSA 143 by inserting after section 29 the following new subdivision:

Food Recovery Working Group

143:30 Food Recovery Working Group.

I. The food recovery working group shall be convened by the department of health and human services and shall have, at a minimum, the following members:

(a) One member of the house, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

(c) A member representing the public interest, appointed by the governor.

(d) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.

(e) The commissioner of the department environmental services, or designee.

(f) A representative of the New Hampshire Grocers Association, appointed by that association.

(g) A representative of the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association, appointed by that association.

(h) A representative of the health department of a New Hampshire city.

(i) A representative of the New Hampshire Food Bank, appointed by that organization.

(j) A representative of the department of education office of nutrition programs and services school lunch program, appointed by the commissioner of the department of education.

(k) A representative oof the Food Recovery Network, appointed by that organization.

(l) A school nurse or school dietician.

(m) A representative of the university of New Hampshire sustainability institute, appointed by that institute.

(n) A representative of a New Hampshire-based food manufacturer.

(o) A representative of the Northeast Resource Recovery Association, appointed by that association.

(p) A representative of the New Hampshire farm to school program, appointed by that program.

(q) A representative of a company that provides food services to schools.

II. Unless otherwise indicated, members shall be appointed by the commissioner of the department of health and human services.

III. The food recovery working group shall:

(a) Review state and federal laws, policies, and guidelines relative to food safety and food recovery.

(b) Examine national and regional initiatives to increase food recovery and recommend changes to help promote food recovery in New Hampshire.

(c) Assess New Hampshire's food industry including food manufacturers, restaurants, and retail food stores, to understand any regulatory barriers to food recovery.

(d) Review policies in New Hampshire schools and universities and recommend changes to promote food recovery in New Hampshire.

(e) Explore such other matters as the working group deems necessary and recommend related legislative, rule, or policy changes.

IV. The food recovery working group shall make a final report of its findings to the speaker of the house of representatives, president of the senate, the chairs of the house and senate standing committees with oversight of health and human services, the governor, the commissioner of the department of health and human services, and commissioner of the department of education by November 1, 2021 and shall file an initial proposal of any rule changes with the office of legislative services by November 1, 2021.

V. The working group shall meet no later than 60 days after the effective date of this section.

3 Repeal. RSA 143:30, relative to the food recovery working group, is repealed.

4 Effective Date.

I. Section 3 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2021.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.

1 Purpose and Findings. The general court finds that food waste represents a lost opportunity to feed the hungry, is an economic loss to purchasers, occupies needed space in our landfills, and generates greenhouse gases as it decomposes. Estimates indicate that approximately 20 percent of the solid waste disposed of is food waste. This working group is being created to review existing regulations and policies to reduce food waste by increasing food recovery, and to identify regulatory hurdles that impede the sharing of food with the hungry.

2 New Subdivision; Food Recovery Working Group. Amend RSA 143 by inserting after section 29 the following new subdivision:

Food Recovery Working Group

143:30 Food Recovery Working Group.

I. The food recovery working group shall be convened by the department of health and human services and shall have, at a minimum, the following members:

(a) One member of the house, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

(c) A member representing the public interest, appointed by the governor.

(d) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.

(e) The commissioner of the department environmental services, or designee.

(f) A representative of the New Hampshire Grocers Association, appointed by that association.

(g) A representative of the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association, appointed by that association.

(h) A representative of the health department of a New Hampshire city.

(i) A representative of the New Hampshire Food Bank, appointed by that organization.

(j) A representative of the department of education office of nutrition programs and services school lunch program, appointed by the commissioner of the department of education.

(k) A representative oof the Food Recovery Network, appointed by that organization.

(l) A school nurse or school dietician.

(m) A representative of the university of New Hampshire sustainability institute, appointed by that institute.

(n) A representative of a New Hampshire-based food manufacturer.

(o) A representative of the Northeast Resource Recovery Association, appointed by that association.

(p) A representative of the New Hampshire farm to school program, appointed by that program.

(q) A representative of a company that provides food services to schools.

II. Unless otherwise indicated, members shall be appointed by the commissioner of the department of health and human services.

III. The food recovery working group shall:

(a) Review state and federal laws, policies, and guidelines relative to food safety and food recovery.

(b) Examine national and regional initiatives to increase food recovery and recommend changes to help promote food recovery in New Hampshire.

(c) Assess New Hampshire's food industry including food manufacturers, restaurants, and retail food stores, to understand any regulatory barriers to food recovery.

(d) Review policies in New Hampshire schools and universities and recommend changes to promote food recovery in New Hampshire.

(e) Explore such other matters as the working group deems necessary and recommend related legislative, rule, or policy changes.

IV. The food recovery working group shall make a final report of its findings to the speaker of the house of representatives, president of the senate, the chairs of the house and senate standing committees with oversight of health and human services, the governor, the commissioner of the department of health and human services, and commissioner of the department of education by November 1, 2021 and shall file an initial proposal of any rule changes with the office of legislative services by November 1, 2021.

V. The working group shall meet no later than 60 days after the effective date of this section.

3 Repeal. RSA 143:30, relative to the food recovery working group, is repealed.

4 Effective Date.

I. Section 3 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2021.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.