ATLANTA — Laws establishing laws for Georgia’s quickly rising third-party meals supply trade has been launched within the Basic Meeting.
Senate Invoice 34 is an outgrowth of a Senate examine committee chaired by Sen. Elena Guardian, D-Atlanta, which held a number of conferences this previous summer time and fall to debate an trade that has no federal oversight and solely state and native patchwork laws.
Third-party meals supply was nearly non-existent earlier than the pandemic closed eating places for in-person eating. Apps, together with Uber Eats and DoorDash, emerged and grew so quick that well being regulators could not catch up, prompting buyer complaints of unsanitary practices.
The trade additionally ran afoul of restaurant house owners, who complained that third-party meals supply drivers had been working unauthorized adverts underneath their names, selling relationships that did not exist.
Senate Invoice 34 would finish such practices in Georgia, prohibiting third-party meals corporations from promoting nonexistent restaurant connections and requiring them to enter into contracts with eating places earlier than choosing up and delivering meals from these amenities.
The laws would additionally require autos used for meals supply to 3rd events to be clear. No smoking or vaping can be allowed inside supply autos, and pets can be prohibited until they’re service animals.
Meals containers delivered by a 3rd social gathering would must be closed, sealed, and tamper resistant. Thermal containers can be required when essential to maintain meals on the correct temperature.
Guardian’s invoice has bipartisan cosponsors, together with Republican Sens. John Albers of Roswell and Frank Ginn of Danielsville. Democratic cosponsors embrace Sens. Harold Jones of Augusta and Sally Harrell of Atlanta.
This story is made accessible by a information partnership with Capitol Beat Information Service, a venture of the Georgia Press Academic Basis.