Banning Municipal Code Art. III Food Handlers (Riverside County Ord. No. 567)

It is the purpose and intent of this article to attain a uniform standard by requiring all food handlers in the county of Riverside to demonstrate through process of examination that they possess an adequate knowledge of the sanitary principles and practices within the food industry.

(Code 1965, § 9-30.)

As used in this article:

"Food worker's certificate" means a statement issued by the health officer certifying that a person has satisfactorily demonstrated his or her competency in food sanitation principles and practices.

"Food Worker's Manual" means the manual prepared and distributed to food handlers by the health officer that describes acceptable procedures and sanitary practices as it pertains to the retail food service industry.

"Health officer" means the health officer of the county of Riverside, or his or her designated representative.

(Code 1965, § 9-31.)

No person shall engage or serve in any work, occupation or employment which requires or occasions the handling of any food, liquor or material intended for food or drink for human consumption or the handling of any dishes or other articles used in the preparation or service of food or drink for human consumption who does not hold or produce a food worker's certificate as required by this chapter within fourteen days after engaging or serving in such work, occupation or employment; and no owner, manager or agent of such owner, or person in charge, of any establishment or business shall retain in the employ thereof for the performance of such services any person who does not hold and produce a food worker's certificate as required by this chapter within fourteen days after such person engages or serves in such employment.

(Code 1965, § 9-32.)

Any person who engages or serves or seeks employment relating to domestic or household work or to temporary, occasional or intermittent functions of bona fide religious, charitable or public service organizations, including fraternal organizations, veterans' organizations, established youth organizations, parent-teacher associations, or students in public or private schools under the age of sixteen engaged in school food operations, and civic or community organizations or groups, the primary purpose of which is the betterment of the cultural, social or economic welfare and environment of the community, shall be exempt from the provisions of Section 8.24.200 of this article.

(Code 1965, § 9-33.)

Any person who is engaged or intends to engage in an occupation or employment for which a food worker's certificate is required by Section 8.24.200 of this article shall file with the health officer an application for such certificate or a renewal thereof in such form as the health officer may require, which application shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee of five dollars provided, however, students sixteen years of age or older engaged in school food operations are exempted from such fee.

(Code 1965, § 9-34.)

To qualify for the issuance or renewal of a food worker's certificate as required by Section 8.24.200 of this article, the applicant shall have demonstrated his or her knowledge of acceptable practices in the sanitary preparation, service, storage, distribution and sale of food and beverages and the proper sanitation of equipment and facilities. Such demonstration of knowledge shall be by satisfactorily passing an examination conducted by the health officer on such subjects, based on the practices and procedures set forth in the Food Worker's Manual. A copy of the latest edition of the manual shall be made available by the health officer to those persons applying for a food worker's certificate of renewal thereof.

(Code 1965, § 9-35.)

When qualified pursuant to Section 8.24.230 of this article, the applicant shall be issued a food worker's certificate containing the following information: certificate number, name, home address, expiration date and attesting signature. Such certificate shall expire two years after the date it was issued.

(Code 1965, § 9-36.)

A duplicate food worker's certificate, for good cause, may be issued by the health officer for a fee of one dollar.

(Code 1965, § 9-37.)

The food worker's certificate may be revoked by the health officer upon evidence indicating repeated or continuing violations of accepted practices and procedures in the preparation, service, storage, distribution, or sale of food or beverages, or upon evidence indicating falsification of information required for issuance of such certificate.

(Code 1965, § 9-38.)

A. Any person who has an application for a food worker's certificate denied by the health officer, or who has had such a certificate revoked by the health officer, may appeal such denial or revocation by filing with the clerk of the board of supervisors, within ten days after the date of such denial or revocation, a written notice of appeal briefly setting forth the reasons why such denial or revocation is not proper. The clerk shall give notice of the time and place of the hearing to the appellant.

B. Such appeal shall be heard by the board of supervisors which may affirm, amend or reverse the decision or take such other action as it deems appropriate. In conducting the hearing, the board of supervisors shall not be limited by the technical rules of evidence.

(Code 1965, § 9-39.)

Any person required to have a food worker's certificate shall immediately submit such certificate to his or her employer. It shall be the duty of every such employer to keep on continuous display at the place of employment the food worker's certificates of all such persons employed or engaged therein, and to display therewith a current list of all such persons therein engaged or employed for comparison with such certificates. Upon termination of employment, each unexpired certificate shall be returned to the holder.

(Code 1965, § 9-40.)

A. Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall be guilty of an infraction and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by:

1. A fine of one hundred dollars for the first violation;

2. A fine not exceeding two hundred dollars for the second violation within one year;

3. A fine not less than five hundred dollars, but not to exceed one thousand dollars, and/or six months in the county jail. Each day such violation is committed or permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense.

(Code 1965, § 9-41.)