Gov. Brown signs SB 303, modifying requirements of California Food Handler Card law

A new bill designed to modify the California Food Handler Card law was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown Tuesday, illuminating the law's requirements for the nearly 1 million affected foodservice workers across the state. Senate Bill 303 (Padilla), more clearly defines how employees can obtain training, and the technical requirements of organizations offering the food safety training and issuing official California Food Handler Cards.

"Food safety remains a top priority for our members, and we're doing everything we can to ensure operators are aware of how to fully comply with the law," CRA President + CEO Jot Condie said. "We fully support this new legislation and appreciate Governor Brown and Senator Padilla's commitment to the restaurant industry."

Per SB 303, training providers are qualified to issue valid California Food Handler Cards if their program has been accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) under the ANSI/ASTM E2659-09 Standard Practice for Certificate Programs Accreditation as of Jan. 1, 2012, which is when local health enforcement officials will begin issuing penalties to incompliant restaurants.

California Food Handler Cards are required for workers involved in the preparation, storage or service of food in food facilities.

"By law, food handlers working in restaurants must have a card on file with their employer today, or within 30 days of hire," Condie said.

The providers qualified to issue cards under the original law, SB 602, including the National Restaurant Association's ServSafe program, National Registry and Prometric, also are still compliant, and have until the end of the year to secure accreditation.

"We are proud to offer the ServSafe California Food Handler Program, which remains the industry's top solution for employee level food safety training, and fully compliant under California law," said David Gilbert, chief operating officer of the National Restaurant Association.

For more information about the law, go online at calrest.org/foodhandler.