Oklahoma lawmaker files anti-hunger legislation

OKLAHOMA CITY —

An Oklahoma lawmaker has filed anti-hunger legislation he says is designed to clarify state and federal policies that discourage the donation of food by restaurants, grocery stores and bakeries.

Democratic Rep. Richard Morrissette of Oklahoma City the federal government has established food policies that discourage donations at a time when citizens are suffering with hunger.

Morrissette says a bill he has filed called the Josephine Meade Anti-Hunger Act will bring some clarity to the issue of liability. He says policies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services dissuade local establishments from donating food items and that significant amounts of food are being wasted.

Morrissette's bill directs the Oklahoma Department of Human Services to create rules to update Oklahoma's statutes to reflect the will of the Good Samaritan Act.

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