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<section article="ghg" article_name="Health - General" number="21-304" title_number="21" title_name="Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Food Establishments">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Department shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>For excluded organizations, the Department:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Shall adopt separate regulations that establish minimum standards that:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Ensure food integrity and safety;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Preserve public health; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>Control foodborne illnesses;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>May adopt separate regulations that establish a licensing system, with appropriate standards, that excluded organizations may voluntarily choose to submit to as a rescindable alternative to regulation under item (i) of this paragraph; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>May adopt regulations governing excluded organizations serving potentially hazardous food prepared in a private kitchen.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, a political subdivision may not adopt a law, ordinance, rule, or regulation that establishes a standard that is less stringent than rules and regulations adopted under this subtitle.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Except as otherwise provided in this section, this subtitle does not limit the power of a home rule or charter county or Baltimore City to adopt and enforce laws, ordinances, and regulations that are consistent with the purposes of this subtitle, including the power to adopt local licensing and enforcement procedures.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>In this subsection the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“Farmer’s market” means a public market in the State where producers of raw agricultural products sell the products directly to the public.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>“Raw agricultural product” includes:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Whole, unprocessed grains, flowers, herbs, nuts, fruits, and vegetables supplied directly from the farm on which they were produced; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Any agricultural products the Department identifies in regulation.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A local jurisdiction may not require a license for the sale of raw agricultural products at a farmer’s market or at a public festival or event.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The governing body of Frederick County may adopt an ordinance to allow a restaurant with an outdoor dining area to allow a patron’s dog to accompany the patron in the outdoor dining area.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>An ordinance adopted under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Prohibit a dog from being allowed to travel through an indoor space of a restaurant to enter or exit an outdoor dining area; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Contain a provision to ensure that the ordinance does not affect the right of an individual to use a service animal, as defined in § 7–701 of the Human Services Article.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“Base of operations” means a location used by the owner or operator of a mobile food service facility that provides:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>A source of potable water, potable water hoses, and clean connections;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>A method for the disposal of sewage;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>Clean, adequate, and covered trash receptacles;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>If necessary, refrigerated and dry food storage areas;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="5">
          <text>A storage area for single–serve food items; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="6">
          <text>If necessary, a utensil washing facility.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>“County of origin” means the county in which the base of operations of a mobile food service facility is located.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>“Mobile food service facility” means a food service facility that:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Is a vehicle mechanically, electrically, manually, or otherwise propelled;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Operates on land or water; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>Changes its location as part of its routine sales operation.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>“Mobile reciprocity license” means a license issued under paragraph (3) of this subsection.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>This subsection does not apply to a mobile food service facility that operates solely under a temporary food service license in conjunction with fairs, carnivals, or similar events.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A county health department shall issue a mobile reciprocity license to a mobile food service facility that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Is operating in the county;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Is operating within 90 miles of its base of operations; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Holds a valid license from the county of origin.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>A county health department may charge a fee for a mobile reciprocity license in an amount not exceeding $300.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>A mobile reciprocity license is valid for a period of 1 year.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>If a mobile food service facility has been inspected by the county of origin, a county may not require that the mobile food service facility be inspected before a county health department issues a mobile reciprocity license.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>A county health department that issued a mobile reciprocity license may inspect the mobile food service facility while the mobile food service facility is operating in the county.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="8">
      <text>A mobile food service facility that is issued a mobile reciprocity license shall comply with all applicable State and local laws and regulations.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="9">
      <level label="i">
        <text>A county health department may take enforcement action, including the levy of fines, against a mobile food service facility that violates this subtitle or any regulation adopted under this subtitle or any applicable local laws or regulations.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>If a county health department takes enforcement action under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, the county health department shall notify the county of origin of the action taken.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
