Notice of Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION
Division of Hotels and Restaurants
RULE NO: RULE TITLE
61C-4.023: Food Protection Manager Certification and Public Food Service Employee Training
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the proposed rule development is to correctly identify the location of the adopted basic food protection practices and update the adopted Conference for Food Protection Standards for Accreditation of Food Protection Manager Certification Programs. The effect of the proposed rule development is to comply with the statutory requirement to adopt standards consistent with the standards adopted by the Conference for Food Protection and ensure food manager certification programs meet the current standards.
SUMMARY: The proposed rule corrects the reference to the adopted food protection practices required for food manager certification and updates the accreditation standards for organizations providing food manager certification by adopting the 2008 version of the Conference for Food Protection Standards for Accreditation of Food Protection Manager Certification Programs.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: The agency has determined that this rule will not have an impact on small business. A SERC has not been prepared by the agency.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 509.032, 509.039, 509.049 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 509.039, 509.049 FS.
IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN FAW.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Michelle Comingore, Operations Review Specialist, Division of Hotels and Restaurants, Department of Business and Professional Regulation, 1940 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1012, telephone: (850)488-1133

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

61C-4.023 Food Protection Manager Certification and Public Food Service Employee Training.

(1) All managers who are responsible for the storage, preparation, display, and serving of foods to the public shall have passed a certification test approved by the division demonstrating a basic knowledge of food protection practices as adopted by the division in this chapter. Those managers who successfully pass an approved certification examination shall be issued a certificate by the certifying organization, which is valid for a period of five years from the date of issuance. Each licensed establishment shall have a minimum of one certified food protection manager responsible for all periods of operation. The operator shall designate in writing the certified food protection manager or managers for each location. A current list of certified food protection managers shall be available upon request in each establishment. When four or more employees, at one time, are engaged in the storage, preparation or serving of food in a licensed establishment, there shall be at least one certified food protection manager present at all times when said activities are taking place. The certified food protection manager or managers need not be present in the establishment during those periods of operation when there are three or fewer employees engaged in the storage, preparation, or serving of foods. It shall be the responsibility of the certified food protection manager or managers to inform all employees under their supervision and control who engage in the storage, preparation, or serving of food, to do so in accordance with acceptable sanitary practices as described in this chapter.

(2) No change.

(3) The Conference for Food Protection Standards for Accreditation of Food Protection Manager Certification Programs, as adopted by the Conference for Food Protection on August 4, 2008 April 12, 2000 and herein adopted by reference, shall be the division standard for the recognition of certifying organizations who provide food manager certification examinations. A copy of the Standards for Accreditation of Food Protection Manager Certification Programs is available on the Conference for Food Protection website at www.foodprotect.org. The Division of Hotels and Restaurants shall accept all certification examinations approved by the Conference for Food Protection. Certifying organizations that are accredited by a Conference for Food Protection sanctioned accreditor shall be recognized by the division as approved providers of a Food Protection Manager Certification Program.

(4) No change.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 509.032, 509.039, 509.049 FS. Law Implemented 509.039, 509.049 FS. History–New 2-21-91, Amended 5-12-92, Formerly 10D-13.037, 7C-4.023, Amended 3-31-94, 10-9-95, 1-18-98, 2-7-01, 8-12-08,________.


NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Bill L. Veach, Director, Division of Hotels and Restaurants, Department of Business and Professional Regulation
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Charlie Liem, Interim Secretary, Department of Business and Professional Regulation
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: April 13, 2010
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: September 25, 2009