California senate bans Styrofoam
SACRAMENTO, CALIF. — The California senate has voted to ban the use of Styrofoam containers throughout the state. The Senate passed the bill — which would prohibit restaurants, grocery stores and other businesses from packaging items like prepared food in polystyrene foam — by a vote of 21-15. If passed into law, the bill, SB 568, would make California the first state to ban the use of Styrofoam. Currently about 50 jurisdictions throughout the state have Styrofoam bans in place. Restaurateurs and other food vendors would have to comply by Jan. 1, 2016. Schools would have to comply by July 1, 2017. The bill will now go to the state assembly, where it is expected to be voted on by the end of August.
Immigration law in Arizona upheld
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court upheld an Arizona law that would penalize businesses that hire illegal immigrants. The court, which supported the law by a vote of 5-3, said the federal government cannot bar the state of Arizona from suspending or revoking a business’s license for employing unauthorized immigrants. Proponents of the measure, which was signed into law by former Gov. Janet Napolitano, said that while immigration is the responsibility of the federal government, Arizona has been compelled to confront the issue because of the rise in the number of undocumented workers.
A number of groups opposing the law maintained that only the U.S. government has the power to regulate immigration, and therefore states are precluded from enacting such measures. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said that allowing individual states and localities to regulate immigration would create a patchwork quilt of laws that would be unfair to employers and employees.
Louisiana bill promotes local food
BATON ROUGE, LA. — The Louisiana legislature advanced a measure that would reward restaurants for using local fruits, vegetables and other food produced in the state.
Eligible restaurants would receive a 4-percent reimbursement of the cost of using locally produced products under the Louisiana Buy Local Purchase Incentive Program. The state began developing the program after last summer’s BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill crippled the state’s seafood industry.
Stan Harris, president and chief executive of the Louisiana Restaurant Association, said the group supports the bill, as it “encourages the state’s [restaurant] owners and chefs to buy local product whenever possible.”
The bill would be in effect through 2014, with the option for the state to extend it.
The program would grant up to $7 million per year, with funds coming from fees assessed by the food producers, including those in seafood, beef, rice, yams, corn and other state-grown or -harvested products.
The legislation, which was introduced by Sen. Fred Mills, R-St. Martinville, was approved in May by a vote of 30-1 in the Senate and 10-0 in the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture and Rural Development. It still must pass the full House. It would then be sent to Gov. Bobby Jindal for approval.
The bill states: “The health, safety and welfare of the people of this state are dependent upon the continued encouragement, development, growth and expansion of Louisiana farmers and agricultural products. Louisiana residents rely on Louisiana farmers and agricultural processors as their primary source of safe, nutritional and affordable food.”
In addition, Harris said the LRA is working with the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center and the state’s agriculture commissioner to launch a chef/restaurant survey to determine what products they are interested in serving, and how much and how often they need certain products.
“This initiative will put the ‘farm-to-fork’ concept into motion here in Louisiana,” Harris said.
Ohio House: Guns OK near alcohol
COLUMBUS, OHIO — The Ohio House voted to allow customers to take guns into restaurants, bars and open-air arenas that serve alcohol. The measure, which passed by a vote of 56 to 40, allows concealed-carry permit holders to carry guns in those venues providing they, themselves, do not drink. Under the measure, business owners would be allowed to post signs banning guns from their operations. The bill now moves on to the state Senate. According to the law, guns would be prohibited in restaurants and other businesses that do not serve alcohol.
Alabama passes immigration bill
MONTGOMERY, ALA. — The Alabama state legislature passed a measure that would force employers to use the federal E-verify program to determine whether a prospective employee is in this country legally. The bill also would make it illegal for an undocumented worker to “knowingly apply for work, solicit work in a public or private place, or perform work for an employee or independent contractor” in the state. Individuals could be punished with a fine of not more than $500. Proponents of the measure, which is similar to a law passed in Arizona, say it would prevent illegal immigrants from taking jobs that normally would be held by Alabama residents.
