AN ACT CONCERNING CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS.

This bill increases participation in the federal School Breakfast Program by requiring local and regional school boards to serve breakfast at each severe needs school with students in grades eight and under. Federal law defines severe needs school as one in which at least 40% of the lunches served in the fiscal year that is two years prior to the program year were free or reduced-price. Under current law, school boards must participate on behalf of only those schools in which at least 80% of lunches served are free or reduced- price.

Currently, the boards qualify for state Department of Education (SDE) grants when a breakfast program's costs exceed the federal and cash income it generates. It appears that, under the bill, the grant program will be open to schools that meet the 40% threshold.

1. extends SDE's in-classroom school breakfast pilot grant program statewide,

2. requires school boards to sponsor at least one summer food service program if a school serves free or reduced price lunches to more than half of its students, but allows the boards to exempt themselves, and

3. requires SDE to administer a child nutrition outreach program to increase participation in various federal food programs.

Under existing law, grants to school districts are calculated by adding (1) $ 3,000 for each participating severe needs school, prorated to reflect a 180-day school year and (2) 10 cents for each breakfast the severe needs schools serve. SDE must proportionally reduce grant amounts if the total amount due to grantees exceeds available funds. The bill specifies that application of the formula in future years cannot reduce grant amounts below the FY 2008 level for school districts that received grants for that fiscal year.

Legislation enacted in 2006 established an in-classroom school breakfast pilot program for up to 10 severe needs schools. Under the program, SDE administers a competitive grant program and awards funding based on a proposed program's objectives, description, cost, the number of children who will benefit, and whether it is likely to increase the number of students receiving nutritious benefits.

The bill opens the grant program to all severe needs schools and requires qualifying in-classroom breakfast programs to provide free breakfasts to all students. Current law does not require that in-classroom meals be free to all.

The bill generally requires school boards that have at least one school in which at least half of the lunches it serves are free or reduced-price to develop a plan by April 15, 2009 to sponsor at least one summer food service program beginning in the summer of 2009. The program must run for at least 35 consecutive days.

Under the bill, boards that seek to exempt themselves from sponsoring summer programs must hold a public hearing on the issue and take a vote on exemption. It must notify the education commissioner within 10 days of voting an exemption. Each school board that votes to exempt itself must reconsider its decision every year and vote on whether to continue the exemption for the following year.

When a school board votes for the exemption, the bill authorizes it to encourage nonprofit entities to sponsor programs. By February 15 each year, the education commissioner must provide school boards a list of local organizations that have filed letters of intent to participate in the Summer Food Service Program (SFS).

If a nonprofit entity sponsors a program but fails to perform its obligations, the bill specifies that neither SDE or a school board is (1) required to take over the program or (2) liable for its discontinuation.

The bill directs SDE to administer a child nutrition outreach program within available appropriations. The purpose of the program is to increase participation in the federal School Breakfast, SFS, and Child and Adult Care Food (CACF) programs.

1. schools to (a) participate in the School Breakfast Program; (b) use innovative breakfast service methods where students eat breakfast in their classrooms or at some other location after school starts, rather than only before school and in the cafeteria; and (c) apply for state in-classroom breakfast grants;

2. local and regional school districts to (a) sponsor SFS Program sites, (b) recruit other site sponsors, and (c) make grants to site sponsors to assist them in increasing child participation; and

3. day care centers to participate in the CACF Program.

It must also publicize the availability of federally funded child nutrition programs throughout the state.

SDE administers the School Breakfast, SFS, and CACF programs, under which federal reimbursements are received for each meal served at free, reduced, or paid rates.

The SFS was created to ensure that children in lower-income areas could continue to receive nutritious meals during long school vacations, when they do not have access to school lunch or breakfast. SFS sponsors receive payments for serving healthy meals and snacks to children aged, 18 and younger, at approved sites in low-income areas. Schools, public agencies, and private nonprofit organizations may sponsor the programs.

CACF provides federal reimbursements for meals and snacks served to eligible children and adults who are enrolled for care at participating child care centers, day care homes, and adult day care centers. CACF also provides reimbursements for meals served to children residing in emergency shelters and snacks to youths participating in after school care programs.

Yea

Nay

(02/28/2008)

Yea

Nay

(03/14/2008)

Yea

Nay

(03/28/2008)