GFIA_Vol24No1.indd

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

Food Insecurity • Creation of Food Insecurity Council or Study Committees (SB177, HR185, HR1564) • Healthy Food Development Programs to include grants and tax extentives (HB570, HB321 HR1566) Interchange Fees Does not allow retail to charge surcharge fee greater than the actual transaction fee Labeling • Menstrual products (HB258) • Food service establishments (restaurants) must label cell culti vated or plant-based products (HB908) Labor Mandates • Minimum wage increase to $15 per hour (HB 241, SB25) • Mandated Paid Sick Leave (HB 78) • Allows employees to obtain entire personnel record (HB980) • Creates right of action for discrimination regarding protected hairstyles (SB82) (HR1208) • Creates right of action if employers do not make reasonable accommodations for pregnant employees. (SB 283) • Clean air standards in new construction (HB149) Public Assistance • Increases TANF (cash assistance) lifetime maximum (HB565)

by Sen. Brass (R-Newnan) that authorizes the Board of Pharmacy to increase the ratio of pharmacy technicians to pharmacists for closed-door pharmacies (not open to the public). Status: Passed SB 198, was stripped of its original language and used to pass some of the language that would require pharmacy benefits managers (PBM’s) under State Health Benefit Plan, a PBM shall reimburse an independent pharmacy in an amount not less than the average amount reimbursed for chain pharmacies. Status: Passed The following bills did NOT pass during the last two years. It is very useful to see the issues that are important to legislators, and we expect to see them again. Alcohol • Expanded alcohol delivery areas - Bills expanding delivery to within 25 miles of local establish ment (HB170, SB194) - Allowing brewers to deliver to retailers within 100 miles (HB407) • Expanded number of alcohol licenses from two to six (SB215) Cash Mandates • Requires brick and mortar retailers to accept cash (HB940) (SB548) Data Privacy (SB473)

F inancial S trength PWADC cooperative can be a very important and valuable tool in furthering the success of your grocery operation. The financial benefits can be realized by you today as well as long-term. PWADC is consistently recognized as one of the financially strongest cooperatives in the country. Join our many satisfied members and let that strength go to work for you today. Matthew Peters Vice President and Director of Finance and Administration

...making investments for our retailers’ future pwadc Piggly Wiggly Alabama Distributing Co., Inc.

www.pwadc.net

Contact Information •New Account Managers

•Todd Dorn - 256-444-5943 •Maggie Phipps - 229-686-8358 •Director of Business Development - Jeff Brown - 205-830-9180 Piggly Wiggly Alabama Distributing Co. Inc., 2400 J. Terrell Wooten Drive, Bessemer, Alabama 35020

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“The Voice of the Food Industry in Georgia”