Pursuant to Washington Administrative Code (WAC) Chapter 246-217, all food workers must possess a food worker card and local health jurisdictions are authorized to issue food worker cards. Food worker cards are valid throughout Washington State. While the Health District does offer the ability to obtain food worker cards at in-person classes, most acquire their cards through an online system.
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD) operates an online system for educating and testing food workers in accordance with WAC 246-217. There is an existing intergovernmental agreement between the Health District and TPCHD for this service which expires on December 31, 2021. The agreement grants Snohomish County residents access to the TPCHD online food worker card system, and in exchange, TPCHD retains $3 of the state-mandated $10 fee.
This agreement (Exhibit A) provides support for Health District food safety activities. For the past two years, the revenue has averaged approximately $200,000 per year with 2021 projected to be similar. The agreement continues this valued collaboration for the next five years (until December 31, 2026).
The agreement was reviewed by legal counsel. Recommendations received were to reduce the overall term from five to three years to align with the draft contract policy and shorten the notice of termination from 180 to 90 days. TPCHD accepted the reduction in termination notice but requested the contract duration remain at five years, to allow them to process the renewal in the same cycle as other counties.