Juneau -- The Alaska Senate passed legislation Saturday that requires fees charged by the Department of Environmental Conservation Food Safety and Sanitation program be commensurate with the services that they provide with regard to inspecting and providing permits for food service facilities. Senate Bill 271, sponsored by Senator Robin Taylor (R-Wrangell), also creates the new Food Safety Advisory Group.

SB 271 was drafted in response to complaints from businesses against the DEC. "A review by the Administrative Regulation and Review Committee has shown that while the DEC continues to raise fees, they have not provided the services for which they have charged," said Taylor. "In addition, there is evidence of inconsistencies in the inspection and permit fees charged to different facilities, varying from $50 for one business to $985 for another, without justifiable reasons for these divergent fees. In some instances, they have even charged fees for inspections that did not take place."

The Food Safety Advisory Group created by SB 271 will be comprised of representatives of various businesses that provide food services. The Food Safety Advisory Group and the DEC will work together to develop guidelines concerning the inspections and permitting process for food service facilities. These recommendations will include the appropriate time interval between routine inspections of food establishments and the appropriate level of fees that each type of food establishment should pay.

"We hope this bill will prevent the DEC from charging fees for services that they do not provide, and will provide equity to the fees paid by businesses around the state," said Taylor.

SB 271 moves to the House for consideration.

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