NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY OFFICE OF ASSEMBLYMEMBER ARAVELLA SIMOTAS For Immediate Release March 24, 2011 Contact:

Loren Amor, 718-545-3889

Simotas Pushes Restaurant Regulation Bill

Legislation takes aim at arbitrary fines ASTORIA, N.Y. In response to concerns voiced by small-business owners in her district, New York State Assemblymember Aravella Simotas has written and introduced a bill that would give restaurants and other eateries more notice of and more time to comply with newly-imposed health regulations. The legislation would require state, city and local regulatory bodies that set and enforce health standards for eating establishments to provide the establishments with written notice of any new rules that apply to them. The bill would also provide the businesses with a 60-day window after notice is given to adjust to the new regulations before they can be enforced. Too many restaurant owners in my district have complained to me about being fined by the Department of Health for violating regulations they didnt even know existed, Simotas said. Anyone who knows a small-business owner knows that they dont have time to check online every day for changes in regulations. Regulatory agencies need to give these restaurants written notice of new standards and allow them enough time to adjust before they start doling out fines. Simotas cited Joe Santillo, owner and operator of Grand Avenue Pizza in Astoria, who was recently fined $1,400 for violating a new regulation that requires pizza with meat on top of it to be stored in a refrigerator. The most frustrating part for Mr. Santillo was not the thousands of dollars he had to spend on a specialized refrigerator and the demolition work it took to get the equipment through the doorway of his small pizzeria, Simotas said. It was the fine he had to pay for infringing upon a new health standard that he was never made aware of. Simotas, who sits on both the Assemblys Consumer Affairs and Protection and Small Business committees, noted that the goals of protecting the public and stimulating small-business growth need not necessarily stand at odds.

Government agencies need to have the ability to set and enforce strong health standards aimed at protecting the wellbeing of citizens, Simotas said. But restaurant owners need to feel secure in idea thatas long as they act in good faith and follow the rules put in place to protect their customerstheir businesses wont be unnecessarily hampered by arbitrary fines. If were going to dig our state out of the fiscal mess it currently faces, small businesses will have to lead the way, she continued. For them to do that, we need to create a regulatory environment that protects the publics interests while allowing small businesses to thrive, create jobs, and propel New York into a better and brighter future.