Senate Bill No. 602 - CHAPTER 309 - An Act to Amend the California Health and Safety Code on Food Safety

Sep 22, 2026

SB 602 amends California’s Health and Safety Code to strengthen retail food safety requirements. It defines “food handler,” revises the knowledge elements for food safety certification examinations, and specifies how food safety certification is obtained through accredited organizations. The bill requires at least one accredited food safety certification examination to be offered online and updates deadlines for obtaining food handler cards, including ongoing maintenance during employment. It also addresses exemptions for existing local programs, recordkeeping for card possession, and affordable training costs, while creating related enforcement and state-mandate provisions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

Legislative Counsel’s Digest

Existing law and certification framework

Online food safety examination requirement

Food handler card deadlines and maintenance

Exemptions, recordkeeping, and training cost limits

State mandate and reimbursement provisions

Statutory Amendments

Section 113790 (definition of food handler)

Section 113947.2 (exam knowledge elements)

Section 113947.3 (certification and issuance framework)

Senate Bill No. 602 CHAPTER 309 An act to amend Sections 113947.2 and 113947.3 of, and to add Sections 113790 and 113948 to, the Health and Safety Code, relating to food safety, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. [Approved by Governor September 25, 2010. Filed with Secretary of State September 27, 2010.] legislative counsel’s digest SB 602, Padilla. Food safety. The California Retail Food Code provides for the regulation of health and sanitation standards for retail food facilities by the State Department of Public Health. Under existing law, a violation of these provisions is amisdemeanor. Local health agencies are primarily responsible for enforcing this law. This law generally requires food facilities, except temporary food facilities, to have an owner or employee who has successfully passed an approved and accredited food safety certification examination from an accredited food protection manager certification organization, except as specified. This bill would require at least one of the accredited food safety certification examinations to be offered online. This bill would also require, with specified exceptions, a food handler, as defined, who is hired prior to June 1, 2011, to obtain a food handler cardon or before July 1, 2011. The bill would require food handlers hired after June 1, 2011, to obtain a food handler card within 30 days of his or her date of hire. It would require each food handler to maintain a valid food handler card for the duration of his or her employment as a food handler. This bill would exempt from compliance any food handler subject to an existing local food handler program that took effect prior to January 1, 2009, and would also require a food facility that employs food handlers to maintain records documenting that each food handler employed by the facility possesses a food handler card. The bill would require at least one food handler training course to cost no more than $15 and, ifa training course isnot available at that cost, would remove the requirement to obtain a food handler card. By creating a new crime and expanding the duties of local enforcement officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. 87 Ch. 309 —2— With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute. The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Section 113790 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read: 113790. “Food handler” means an individual who is involved in the preparation, storage, or service of food in a food facility, other than an individual holding a valid food safety certificate issued pursuant to Section 113947.3 or an individual involved in the preparation, storage, or service of food in a temporary food facility. SEC. 2. Section 113947.2 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read: 113947.2. The food safety certification examination for purposes of Section 113947.1 shall include, but need not be limited to, all of the following elements of knowledge: (a) Foodborne illness, including terms associated with foodborne illness, micro-organisms, hepatitis A, and toxins that can contaminate food and the illness that can be associated with contamination, definition and recognition of potentially hazardous foods, chemical, biological, and physical contamination of food, and th

FAQs

What does SB 602 require regarding accredited food safety certification examinations?

It requires that at least one of the accredited food safety certification examinations be offered online.

How does SB 602 change food handler card requirements?

Food handlers hired before June 1, 2011 must obtain a food handler card on or before July 1, 2011. Those hired after June 1, 2011 must obtain the card within 30 days of hire and maintain a valid card for the duration of employment.

What exemptions and recordkeeping provisions does SB 602 include?

It exempts compliance for food handlers covered by an existing local food handler program effective before January 1, 2009. It also requires food facilities that employ food handlers to maintain records showing each food handler possesses a valid card.

Sep 22, 2026

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