Z-0958.1          _______________________________________________

                                 SENATE BILL 5982

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

By Senators McDonald, Roach, Johnson, McCaslin, Gaspard, Rinehart, Murray, Hayner, Wojahn and Snyder; by request of Governor Gardner and Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Read first time April 20, 1991.  Referred to Committee on .Replacing federal funding for free and reduced meals during the teachers' work stoppage.

     AN ACT Relating to feeding school children during teachers' work stoppage; creating new sections; making an appropriation; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.      The legislature finds that state school feeding programs are essential to the health and well-being of many children and that continuing these programs during a teachers' work stoppage is in the best interests of the state of Washington.

     The legislature intends to continue to provide food to eligible children who customarily receive free or reduced meals at their schools, using the regular food programs, during the teachers' work stoppage, which began on April 18, 1991, in forty-six districts throughout the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.      The superintendent of public instruction may reimburse school districts with state funds for the amount of any unavailable federal share of costs for free or reduced school breakfasts or lunches actually provided to children during the teachers' work stoppage that began April 18, 1991.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.      The sum of two million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction solely to replace federal funding for free and reduced school breakfasts and lunches that the state will not receive because of the teachers' work stoppage.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.      This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.