Springfield - State Senator Dan Rutherford (R-Pontiac) wants to protect small communities, senior citizen groups, and church organizations' potluck dinners from unnecessary regulation. Several incidences of closing down community potlucks throughout the state prompted the lawmaker to take action.
One example was a monthly potluck dinner at the United Methodist Church in Minonk. The local health department pulled the plug on those potluck dinners in January, saying they violated food-safety laws.
-Churches, schools, clubs, and non-profit organizations routinely hold potluck dinners with food prepared in people's own kitchens. It-s a time-honored tradition,- said Rutherford.
Rutherford's legislation amends the Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act. It provides that neither the Department of Public Health nor the local health department may regulate the serving of food that is brought to a potluck event sponsored by a group of individuals or a religious, charitable, or nonprofit organization as long as they meet certain guidelines.
The bill says an organization sponsoring a potluck may advertise the event. No fee may be charged for admission to a potluck nor may food be sold at a potluck. A business establishment dealing in the sale of food items may not sponsor a potluck. Potluck event food may not be brought into the kitchen of a business establishment dealing in the sale of food items.
-Potlucks dinners are a community tradition throughout Illinois and one that should not fall under the broad scope of regulators,- he said. "Today it's the church potlucks and community senior gatherings that are being shut down. Someday it might be the neighborhood Super Bowl party because friends are bringing in the hot wings."
The Rutherford potluck bill is Senate Bill 2944. The measure is modeled after a Minnesota law addressing the same issue.
"The health inspectors are doing their job and I do not blame them, but I think the law needs to be changed. A few hundred years ago the Indians and Pilgrims had the first potluck at Thanksgiving. It is an American tradition,- Rutherford concluded.
