California Bill Creates Safeguards for Restaurant Playgrounds

Fast-food restaurants in California could face new sanitation and safety requirements for the playgrounds they install to attract children.

The Assembly approved a bill that would expand food safety laws to cover the indoor and outdoor playgrounds.

Under the bill, sponsored by Democrat Michael Allen of Santa Rosa, restaurants would be required to post signs informing customers that food is not allowed on play structures and to provide adults who ask copies of their playground inspection and cleaning plans.

Allen says the bill was promoted by research showing that restaurant playgrounds can be breeding grounds for illness-causing bacteria and are not always well-maintained.

AB1513 passed 42-22 and goes to the Senate.