Rhode Island HB 7163: AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- SINGLE-USE PLASTIC STRAWS (Prohibits food service establishments from providing plastic straws, unless requested by the consumer. Notices and fined issued upon violation.)

Bill Text

2020 -- H 7163 
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S T A T E     O F     R H O D E     I S L A N D 
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020 
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A N   A C T 
RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- SINGLE-USE PLASTIC STRAWS 
Introduced By: Representatives Bennett, Canario, Jackson, Vella-Wilkinson, and Handy 
Date Introduced: January 16, 2020 
Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources 
 
 
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 
SECTION 1.  Title  21  of  the General  Laws  entitled  "FOOD  AND  DRUGS"  is  hereby 1 
amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 2 
CHAPTER 27.2 3 
SINGLE-USE PLASTIC STRAWS 4 
21-27.2-1. Definitions. 5 
As used in this chapter: 6 
(1) “Food service establishment” shall have the meaning set forth in § 21-27-1. 7 
(2) “Single-use plastic straw” means a single-use, disposable tube made predominantly of 8 
plastic derived from either petroleum or a biologically based polymer, such as corn or other plant 9 
sources,  used  to  transfer  a  beverage  from  a  container  to  the  mouth  of  the  person  drinking  the 10 
beverage. “Single-use plastic straw” does not include a straw made from non-plastic  materials, 11 
including, but not limited to, paper, pasta, sugar cane, wood, or bamboo. 12 
21-27.2-2. Prohibited practices exception. 13 
A  food  service  establishment  shall  not  provide  a  single-use  plastic  straw  to  a  consumer 14 
unless requested by the consumer. 15 
21-27.2-3. Penalties. 16 
The first and second violations of this chapter shall result in a notice of violation, and any 17 
subsequent  violation  shall  be  punishable  by  a  fine  of  twenty-five  dollars  ($25.00)  for  each 18 
violation by the service establishment, but not to exceed three hundred dollars ($300) annually. 19 

 
 
 
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21-27.2-4. Enforcement. 1 
The  director  of  health  shall  promulgate  and  adopt  such  rules  and  regulations  as  may  be 2 
necessary to enforce the provisions of this chapter. 3 
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 4 
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EXPLANATION 
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 
OF 
A N   A C T 
RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- SINGLE-USE PLASTIC STRAWS 
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This  act  would  prohibit  a  food  service  establishment from  providing  a  consumer  with a 1 
single-use plastic straw, unless the consumer requests such a straw. The first and second violation 2 
of  this  statute  would result  in  a  notice  of  violation,  and  any  subsequent  violations  would  be 3 
punishable  by a  fine  of twenty-five  dollars ($25.00), not to exceed three hundred dollars ($300) 4 
annually. 5 
This act would take effect upon passage. 6 
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