STATEHOUSE—Two bills authored by State Rep. Bill Davis (R-Portland) passed out of committee this week that will help protect Hoosier consumers. House Bill (HB) 1298, concerning food safety in commercial vehicles, and HB 1299, which deals with dangerous alcoholic beverages, unanimously passed the House Roads and Transportation Committee and the House Public Policy Committee, respectively, and will soon be considered by the full House of Representatives. Although the federal government provides most of the guidelines for food safety, individual states are responsible for protecting food supplies during transportation. HB 1298 allows the Indiana State Police (ISP) to inspect commercial vehicles to ensure they are complying with food safety standards. If a trooper finds evidence of contamination, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) initiates a thorough investigation. “We trust commercial vehicles to handle our food products each and every day, but we don’t have an effective means of enforcing food transportation safety standards,” said Rep. Davis. “This bill protects our families from dangerous contaminants by safeguarding an important part of the ‘food-chain’.” During the committee hearings, the food safety legislation was supported by the ISP, Farm Bureau, and the Indiana Retail Council. The bill does not target private citizens carrying groceries; it applies only to commercial vehicles that are transporting large quantities of food. The second bill authored by Rep. Davis, HB 1299, protects consumers from highly caffeinated alcoholic products by barring alcohol retailers from selling these products in their stores. Many of these alcoholic beverages are packaged to appeal to young people and often contain large amounts of stimulants, a combination that creates substantial health risks. “Caffeinated alcohol products present a very real danger to people who consume them,” said Rep. Davis. “People don’t understand the risks in mixing powerful stimulants with alcohol. These drinks are marketed toward youth and encourage irresponsible actions that often have tragic consequences.” -30- Rep. Davis authors two bills to promote consumer safety, 1-26-12.docx |
