Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act of 1996

Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act of 1996

The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act of 1996 is a federal law in the United States that provides protection from liability for individuals and organizations who donate food to those in need. It encourages the donation of food to nonprofit organizations and reduces the fear of potential legal repercussions for those who donate.

Background

Prior to the enactment of the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act, many potential food donors were hesitant to donate excess food due to concerns about potential liability if the food caused harm to the recipients. This fear often resulted in perfectly good food being discarded instead of being donated to those in need.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act is to encourage the donation of food to nonprofit organizations by providing legal protection to donors. The act aims to reduce food waste and ensure that excess food is redirected to those who are food insecure.

Key Provisions

The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act provides protection from civil and criminal liability for individuals and organizations that donate food in good faith to nonprofit organizations. The act states that donors shall not be subject to civil or criminal liability arising from the nature, age, packaging, or condition of the donated food, unless the harm is caused by the donor's intentional misconduct or gross negligence.

Impact

Since its enactment, the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act has had a significant impact on food donation practices in the United States. It has encouraged individuals, businesses, and organizations to donate excess food to nonprofit organizations, thereby reducing food waste and helping to alleviate hunger.

Related Legislation

The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act of 1996 has paved the way for similar legislation at the state level. Many states have enacted their own Good Samaritan laws to further protect food donors from liability.

See Also

• Food waste
• Hunger relief organizations