SB2961eng 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB2961 Engrossed LRB097 17622 RPM 62829 b

AN ACT concerning health.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act is amended by changing Section 3 and by adding Section 3.05 as follows:

(410 ILCS 625/3) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 333)

Sec. 3. Each food service establishment shall be under the operational supervision of a certified food service sanitation manager in accordance with rules promulgated under this Act.

By July 1, 1990, the Director of the Department of Public Health in accordance with this Act, shall promulgate rules for the education, examination, and certification of food service establishment managers and instructors of the food service sanitation manager certification education programs. Beginning July 1, 2013, any individual seeking a food service sanitation manager certificate or a food service sanitation manager instructor certificate must complete a minimum of 8 hours of Department-approved training, inclusive of the examination, and receive a score of at least 75% on the examination. A food service sanitation manager certificate and a food service sanitation manager instructor certificate shall be valid for 5 years, unless revoked by the Department of Public Health, and shall not be transferable from the individual to whom it was issued. Beginning July 1, 2013, recertification for food service sanitation manager certification Recertification shall be accomplished by presenting evidence of completion of 8 hours of Department-approved training, inclusive of the examination, and having received a score of at least 75% on the examination ongoing food safety and food sanitation education or re-examination, in compliance with rules promulgated by the Director. Existing certificates shall expire on the printed expiration date or 5 years from the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1989.

For purposes of certification and recertification for food service sanitation manager certification, the Department shall accept only training approved by the Department and certification exams accredited under standards developed and adopted by the Conference for Food Protection or its successor. Any individual may elect to take the Department of Public Health food service sanitation manager certification examination or take an examination administered by a testing authority previously approved by the Department. The Department shall charge a fee of $35 for each new and renewed food service sanitation manager certificate and $10 for each replacement certificate. All fees collected under this Section shall be deposited into the Food and Drug Safety Fund.

Any fee received by the Department under this Section that is submitted for the renewal of an expired food service sanitation manager certificate may be returned by the Director after recording the receipt of the fee and the reason for its return.

The Department shall award an Illinois certificate to anyone presenting a valid certificate issued by another state, so long as the holder of the certificate provides proof of having passed an examination accredited under standards developed and adopted by the Conference for Food Protection or its successor. The $35 issuance fee applies. The reciprocal Illinois certificate shall expire on the same date as the presented certificate. On or before the expiration date, the holder must have met the Illinois recertification requirements in order to be reissued an Illinois certificate. Reciprocity is only for individuals who have moved to or begun working in Illinois in the 6 months prior to applying for reciprocity. Any individual presenting an out-of-state certificate may do so only once.

(Source: P.A. 89-641, eff. 8-9-96.)

(410 ILCS 625/3.05 new)

Sec. 3.05. Food handler training.

(a) All food handlers, other than someone holding a food service sanitation manager certificate, must receive training in basic safe food handling principles as outlined in subsection (b) of this Section within 30 days after employment. There is no limit to how many times an employee may take the training. Training is not transferable between individuals or employers. Proof that a food handler has been trained must be available upon reasonable request by a State or local health department inspector.

(b) Food handler training must cover and assess knowledge of the following topics:

(1) The relationship between time and temperature with respect to foodborne illness, including the relationship between time and temperature and micro-organisms during the various food handling preparation and serving states, and the type, calibration, and use of thermometers in monitoring food temperatures.

(2) The relationship between personal hygiene and food safety, including the association of hand contact, personal habits and behaviors, and the food handler's health to foodborne illness, and the recognition of how policies, procedures, and management contribute to improved food safety practices.

(3) Methods of preventing food contamination in all stages of food handling, including terms associated with contamination and potential hazards prior to, during, and after delivery.

(4) Procedures for cleaning and sanitizing equipment and utensils.

(5) Problems and potential solutions associated with temperature control, preventing cross-contamination, housekeeping, and maintenance.

(c) Training modules must be approved by the Department. Any modules not approved within 90 days after the Department's receipt of the business application shall automatically be considered approved. If a training module has been approved in another state, then it shall automatically be considered approved in Illinois so long as the business provides proof that the training has been approved in another state. Training may be conducted by any means available, including, but not limited to, on-line, computer, classroom, live trainers, remote trainers, and food service sanitation manager instructors. Nothing in this subsection (c) shall be construed to require a proctor. There should be at least one commercially available, approved food handler training module at a cost of no more than $15 per employee; if an approved food handler training module is not available at that cost, then the provisions of this Section 3.05 shall not apply.

(d) Food handler training is considered to be an exclusive function of the State, and local programs are prohibited. This subsection (d) is a denial and limitation of home rule powers and functions under subsection (h) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution.

(e) The provisions of this Section apply beginning July 1, 2015. From July 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015, enforcement of the provisions of this Section shall be limited to education and notification of requirements to encourage compliance.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.