Outdoor dining facilities: pet dogs.

The California Retail Food Code provides for the regulation of health and sanitation standards for retail food facilities, as defined, by the State Department of Public Health. Under existing law, local health agencies are primarily responsible for enforcing this code. A violation of these provisions is punishable as a misdemeanor. The code prohibits live animals from being allowed in a food facility, except under specified conditions if the contamination of food, clean equipment, utensils, linens, and unwrapped single-use articles cannot result. This bill would authorize a food facility to allow a person to bring a pet dog in outdoor dining areas if specified conditions are satisfied. The bill would authorize a city, county, or city and county to prohibit that conduct by ordinance.