The bill amends Section 21-27-10 of the General Laws regarding the registration of food businesses in Rhode Island. It establishes that all food businesses must register annually with the state director of health, with certain exemptions for nonprofit organizations, hospitals, public institutions, farmers markets, roadside farm stands, and municipalities from any required fees. Additionally, it introduces a new annual fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) for food service establishments, which will be transferred to the Department of Labor and Training and deposited into the Hospitality Training Restricted Receipt Account. This account will be exempt from the indirect cost recovery provisions of Section 35-4-27 and will be used, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly, to provide hospitality industry workforce training grants, including certified food and alcohol safety training programs offered in multiple languages.

Furthermore, the bill amends Section 35-4-27 to clarify the indirect cost recoveries on restricted receipt accounts, specifying that certain accounts will be exempt from these provisions. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance the registration process for food businesses while also supporting workforce training initiatives in the hospitality sector.

Statutes affected:
584: 21-27-10, 35-4-27