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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 1, 2010
CONTACT: Owen Thomas
(717) 787-3076
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Senate Approves Vogel Bill on Community Fundraisers

Senate Bill 828 headed to House of Representatives for consideration 

The Senate today (February 1) unanimously approved legislation introduced by Senator Elder Vogel (R-47) barring the state from citing groups that sell commonly prepared baked goods.

Senate Bill 828 is now headed to the state House of Representatives for consideration. The measure eliminates the ability of the Department of Agriculture to cite non-profit community groups such as volunteer fire companies, churches, and school booster clubs for selling home-baked food at fundraisers. 

"I am pleased that my colleagues approved this bill. It's a bipartisan, common sense piece of legislation that I hope the House will enact quickly and send it to the Governor for his signature," Senator Vogel said.

Senator Vogel introduced the bill after the Department of Agriculture cited a local church for selling homemade baked goods prepared by ladies of the church at a Lenten fish fry.

"I believe we should all be concerned about food safety.  However, I also believe that the Commonwealth could make much better use of its resources than to pursue volunteers and groups who are working to improve their communities," Senator Vogel said.  "It's time to restore a little common sense to government."