Digital verification of food protection certificates and penalties for failure to maintain a physical certificate on premises.

This bill would require the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to maintain a digital system of Food Protection Certificates that can be used to verify Certificate holders during an inspection of a food service establishment. The bill would also prohibit DOHMH from issuing a violation that penalizes a food service establishment solely based on a physical Food Protection Certificate not being present in such establishment at the time of an inspection, provided that the certification status of the required Certificate holder is verified as valid in the required digital system.