WEST virginia legislature

2024 regular session

Committee Substitute

for

House Bill 4620

By Delegate Foster

[Originating in the Committee on Health and Human Resources; January 17, 2024]

A BILL to amend and reenact §16-2-16 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to food handler permit; removing the expiration date of a food handler permit; requiring local health departments to adopt the minimum guidelines adopted by the bureau; and permitting continuing education.  

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

Article 2. Local Boards of Health.

§16-2-16. Food handler examinations and cards.

A food handler permit or card issued pursuant to the procedures put in place by a local county board of health department shall be valid for at least one year but not longer than three years. does not expire. The permit or card shall be valid in all counties of this state, if the applicant pays an additional fee not to exceed $10. If required, A permit or card shall be obtained within thirty days of a person being hired in a restaurant or other applicable food establishment. The Bureau for Public Health shall develop adopt minimum guidelines for training programs for individuals seeking a food handler permit or card that may shall be adopted by local county health departments. A local board of health may require continuing education, if food handling guidelines change, but may not charge a fee.  In lieu of state guidelines a local health department may use training courses developed by the American National Standards Institute or other nationally recognized entities for food safety training.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to remove the expiration date of a food handler permit, and make all trainings uniform.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.