Pennsylvania Act 1981-76 — DONATED FOOD LIMITED LIABILITY ACT

Act text

AN ACT

Providing limited civil and criminal immunity to persons donating food to charitable or religious organizations for distribution to needy persons and imposing certain powers and duties on counties.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Donated Food Limited Liability Act."

Section 2. Declaration of policy and legislative findings.

The General Assembly, in order to promote the general welfare, hereby declares as public policy that the Commonwealth's abundance of food should be utilized to its utmost extent. The General Assembly hereby finds that the limited food purchasing power of low income households contributes to hunger and malnutrition. In an effort to alleviate such hunger and malnutrition and supplement other Federal and State food assistance programs, the provisions of this act are intended to stimulate the donation of food to charitable or religious organizations and thereby assist low income households in need.

Section 3. Definitions.

The following words and phrases as used in this act shall have the meanings given them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Charitable organization." A charitable organization as defined in section 2 of the act of August 9, 1963 (P.L.628, No.337), known as the "Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act" and which has a current approved registration statement on file with the Department of State pursuant to the "Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act."

"Food." Any fowl, animal, vegetable or other stuff, product or article which is customary food or which is proper food for human beings. The term shall include wildlife or portions thereof. "Food" shall specifically exclude canned goods that are rusted, leaking or swollen, or canned goods that are defective or cannot, for health reasons, otherwise be offered for sale to members of the general public.

"Wildlife." As defined in 34 Pa.C.S. § 102 (relating to definitions) and taken by lawful hunting in accordance with 34 Pa.C.S. (relating to game) and 58 Pa. Code (relating to recreation).

(3 amended Oct. 30, 1996, P.L.719, No.129)

Section 4. Donor immunity.

(a) General rule.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person who, in good faith, donates food for ultimate free distribution to needy individuals, shall not be subject to criminal or civil liability arising from the condition of such food, if the donor reasonably inspects the food at the time of donation and finds the food fit for human consumption. The immunity provided by this subsection shall not extend to donors where damages result from the negligence, recklessness or intentional misconduct of the donor, or if the donor has, or should have had, actual or constructive knowledge that the food is tainted, contaminated or harmful to the health or well-being of the ultimate recipient.

(b) Condition of food.--The immunity provided by this section is applicable to the good faith donation of food not readily marketable due to considerations not affecting its fitness for human consumption, including, but not limited to, appearance, age, freshness, grade, surplus or labeled date code recommended by the manufacturer, but shall not be deemed or construed to restrict the authority of any authorized agency to otherwise regulate or ban the use of such food for human consumption.

(4 amended June 30, 2025, P.L.29, No.13)

Section 5. Charitable or religious organization immunity.

(a) General rule.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except as provided in subsection (b), any bona fide charitable or religious organization which receives, in good faith, donated food for ultimate distribution to needy individuals, either for free or for a nominal fee, shall not be subject to criminal or civil liability arising from the condition of such food, if the charitable or religious organization does all of the following:

(1) Reasonably inspects the food, at the time of donation and at the time of distribution, and finds the food fit for human consumption.

(2) In the case of wildlife, reasonably processes, prepares and distributes the food.

(b) Exception.--The immunity provided by this section shall not extend to charitable or religious organizations where damages result from the negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct of the charitable or religious organization, or if the charitable or religious organization has or should have had actual or constructive knowledge that the food is tainted, contaminated, or harmful to the health or well-being of the ultimate recipient.

(5 amended Oct. 30, 1996, P.L.719, No.129)

Section 5.1. Wildlife donated as food.

(a) Authorization.--Wildlife may be donated to and processed, prepared and distributed by a charitable organization which serves or distributes food without cost to needy individuals.

(b) Information.--The Department of Agriculture shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with a recognized not-for-profit organization registered with the Bureau of Charitable Organizations, under which the organization will serve as program coordinator to make available information, including cooperating processors and charitable and religious organizations which will accept donations of wildlife. Processors and charitable and religious organizations may notify the program coordinator of their intention to participate in distribution of wildlife. The coordinator shall include them in its lists unless good cause otherwise exists.

(5.1 added Oct. 30, 1996, P.L.719, No. 129)

Section 6. Penalty for sale of donated food.

Any person or any employee of or volunteer for a charitable or religious organization who sells, or offers to sell, for profit, food that such person knows to be donated pursuant to this act commits a misdemeanor of the third degree. The assessment of a nominal fee by the charitable or religious organization shall not be considered a sale.

Section 7. Inspection of food.

Charitable or religious organizations which regularly accept donated food for distribution pursuant to this act shall request the appropriate local health authorities to inspect the food at regular intervals.

Section 8. County information and referral system.

The governing body of each county may develop an informational and referral system to make prospective donors and charitable or religious organizations aware of each other and to make needy individuals aware of the existence of food donated in each county pursuant to this act. Under the provisions of this act the county shall be immune from all criminal and civil liability, unless damages result from the gross negligence, recklessness or intentional misconduct of the county or if the county has, or should have had, actual or constructive knowledge that the food is tainted, contaminated or harmful to the health or well-being of the ultimate recipient.

Section 9. Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.