When our legislators do their thing, what are other legislatures doing?

By Gordon Garnos

AT ISSUE: This year's South Dakota's legislative session is now history.

Reports of its successes and failures will probably make the headlines, first on the front pages and then sail to the inside pages for weeks to come. Since this session came to a close last week, I have discovered through a search on the internet some rather unusual bills are being considered across the country. Here are some:

THE IDEA OF getting rid of those plastic grocery bags isn't dead, at least in some legislatures across the country. Various legislatures are trying to eliminate them. While Michigan and Oregon have long had a plastic/glass bottle and beer and pop can recycling laws other state legislative bodies are trying but pop and beer companies are such strong lobbyists there isn't much movement in this area. There is also a move in one state to do away with yellow writing tablets in government offices because yellow paper, I've learned, doesn't recycle.

At the same time, you might be seeing a change in how New York State handles its health inspection postings. Then again, maybe not. The New York State Senate Majority Leader is pushing letter grades for New York City restaurants. In the aftermath of a video news report of rats in one restaurant, and an ensuing inspection blitz, he did some digging of his own.

After he updated a 2005 report analyzing the inspection records of a portion of the city's restaurants, he said he has decided the health department needs to issue letter grades so the public can easily determine which restaurants have passed inspections and are therefore safe. Trouble is, the health department spokesperson said the city's existing reporting system is a better way of informing consumers about a restaurants sanitary conditions.

The health department presently posts results of restaurant inspections online. The detailed reports explain any violations and distinguish between critical and non-critical infractions. Consumers also can see how restaurants have responded to citations. The spokesman also pointed out that restaurants with failing scores are closed.

NOT A BAD IDEA for South Dakota. With so many of our cities too small to afford health inspectors, the state reports seen on the internet, I'm sure, could tell us quite a story.

In Massachusetts there are two lobbying groups fighting out to see who wins and comparable bills about franchisers and franchisees have been introduced in Kansas and Tennessee. Though they are somewhat different, all of these bills promote franchise agreements that favor franchisees.

The International Franchise Association's V.P. of Government Affairs says it opposes the two bills. At the same time, the National Franchisee Association is pushing support for the legislation.

HERE'S A HOT ONE. Rhode Island, of all places, may follow North Carolina's lead and roll back its fire codes. Changed in 2003 in reaction to a nightclub fire in West Warwick that killed 100, Rhode Island's fire code is one of the toughest in the nation. Dozens of states followed suit and enacted some or all of the changes a Rhode Island commission recommended to the state building standards commission and even the International Building Code.

Businesses in Rhode Island testified recently before a House committee, however, that the laws are now too tough. Restaurants and nightclubs, now must install sprinkler systems, and many operators say the cost is killing their businesses. One inn owner testified that the latest estimate for sprinklers there was $400,000.

And then, in trying to save the best till last, some Florida restaurant must have done something to really chap a state senator: like not putting enough toilet tissue in the restroom. The senator has sponsored a bill that would require restaurants to keep enough toilet paper on hand or face the consequences‹a possible fine (and suspension of license if accompanied by enough critical violations).

THE BILL RECEIVED unanimous approval in a health regulation committee and now is in a senate regulated industries committee. A house version also is making its way through committees. Common sense suggests that you'll put an extra roll in every stall, or at least have employees check once in a while. I would have to call this the issue of the lack of tissue, or something like that.

After my research for this column I was glad to learn other legislatures, like Florida, for example, have their hands full as well.....

P.S. ­ Since this is the "scoring" season, the last day of South Dakota's legislative session produced this score: Governor, seven vetoes, Legislature, one override. One song heard was, "There is always next year." But that song is so old it isn't even on the hit parade any more....


Gordon Garnos was long-time editor of the Watertown Public Opinion and recently retired after 39 years with that newspaper. Garnos, a lifelong resident of South Dakota except for his military service in the U.S. Air Force, was born and raised in Presho.