The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act was created to encourage food donation to nonprofit organizations by minimizing liability. Signed into United States law by President

Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...

, this law, named after Representative Bill Emerson (who encouraged the proposal but died before it was passed), makes it easier to donate 'apparently wholesome food' by excluding donor liability except in cases of

gross negligence Gross negligence is the "lack of slight diligence or care" or "a conscious, voluntary act or omission in reckless disregard of a legal duty and of the consequences to another party." In some jurisdictions a person injured as a result of gross negl ...

or intentional misconduct. Emerson died on June 22, 1996. The Federal Food Donation Act of 2008 built on this legislation by encouraging federal agencies to donate excess food to nonprofit organizations, utilizing the exemption for civil and criminal liability provided for in the 1996 law. Federal contracts for the purchase of food valued at over $25,000 must make provision for contractors to donate apparently wholesome excess food to nonprofit organizations. Federal Acquisition Regulation 26.403-404

References

{{wikisource, Good Samaritan Food Donation Act

External links

Text of law

News story of the law in action

An Act to Encourage the Donation of Food and Grocery Products to Nonprofit Organizations for Distribution to Needy Individuals by Giving the Model Good Samaritan Food Donation Act the Full Force and Effect of Law

Acts of the 104th United States Congress United States tort law

See also

References

External links