HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1551

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported by House Committee On:

Capital Budget

Title: An act relating to equipment assistance grants to enhance student nutrition in public schools.

Brief Description: Creating a competitive equipment assistance grant program to enhance student nutrition in public schools.

Sponsors: Representatives Riccelli, Smith, Johnson, Gregerson, Stonier, Peterson, Doglio, Pettigrew, Reeves, Sells, Ryu, Macri, Farrell, Clibborn, Tarleton, Santos, Lovick, Senn, Slatter, McBride, Orwall, Pollet, Dolan, Hudgins, Stanford, Haler, DeBolt, Appleton, Fitzgibbon, Goodman, Bergquist, Vick, Tharinger, Sawyer, Ormsby and Cody.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Capital Budget: 2/3/17, 2/7/17 [DP].

Brief Summary of Bill

Requires the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish a process to solicit and prioritize applications for an equipment assistance grant program to enhance student nutrition in public schools.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CAPITAL BUDGET

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 19 members: Representatives Tharinger, Chair; Doglio, Vice Chair; Peterson, Vice Chair; DeBolt, Ranking Minority Member; Smith, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Dye, Johnson, Koster, Kraft, MacEwen, Macri, Morris, Reeves, Riccelli, Ryu, Sells, Steele, Stonier and J. Walsh.

Staff: Christine Thomas (786-7142).

Background:

In September 2014 a strategic work group, including participants from the Governor's Office, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), the Department of Health, the Department of Early Learning, and other stakeholders was created as part of the Healthiest Next Generation Initiative to focus on health, early learning, and K-12 environments. The work group recommended state policies that support community-led changes to provide choices for encouraging children to be more active and eat better. Two of the long-term recommendations that were made include supporting school districts in providing minimally processed foods in school meals and supporting schools to increase fresh vegetable and fruit consumption.

In 2015 the Legislature appropriated $5 million in the 2015-17 Capital Budget to the OSPI to administer the Healthy Kids-Healthy Schools grant program. School districts or schools could apply for multiple grants but no single district could receive more than $200,000 of the appropriation. The grants could be used to purchase and install equipment and make repairs and renovations related to improving children's health. The grants were awarded in three categories: (1) water bottle filling stations; (2) nutrition equipment, including such things as kitchen equipment and upgrades as well as greenhouse and other garden related structures; and (3) fitness equipment such as fitness playground equipment, covered play areas, and physical education equipment. The OSPI received requests of about $17.9 million, of which $4.5 million were for nutrition equipment. Of the $5 million appropriation, the nutrition equipment grant awards totaled $1.8 million.

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Summary of Bill:

The "Apple-A-Day" program, an equipment assistance grant program, is established to enhance student nutrition in public schools. "Equipment" is defined as articles of nonexpendable, tangible personal property with a useful life of at least 13 years and a per-unit cost of at least $1,000, and may include the purchase of new equipment, renovation of existing equipment, or replacement equipment. Minor capital improvements required to accommodate the installation of equipment may also be eligible for state assistance.

The OSPI must establish a competitive process to solicit applications for state assistance and must evaluate and rank applications using objective criteria in consultation with an advisory committee of at least three members of selected organizations concerned with child nutrition, including one Washington School Nutrition Association representative and one representative from east of the crest of the Cascade mountains. Public school districts and public schools participating in the National School Breakfast Program or the National School Lunch Program are eligible to apply.

The OSPI must require applicants to demonstrate, at a minimum, the following:

Use of the proposed equipment will enhance nutrition and improve student access to healthier foods. Applicants must submit current school menus and proposed menus using the requested equipment.
Healthy eating and physical activity are actively promoted to students, parents, teachers, and the community.

In evaluating and ranking applications, the OSPI shall give funding priority to:

public schools in which at least 50 percent of the students are eligible for free or reduced-priced meals;
project applications in which equipment purchases will effect menu changes throughout an entire grade group or school district;
project applications that provide a dollar-for-dollar match from nonstate sources;
public schools that can demonstrate nutrition is integrated into core curriculum areas such as math, science, language arts, physical education, and serving healthy Washington-grown food is incorporated into the schools wellness' policy; and
public schools that are engaged in farm-to-school efforts and support Washington farmers by purchasing Washington-grown food when available.

If specific Capital Budget funding for this legislation is not provided by June 30, 2017, the act is null and void.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed. However, the bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The country is facing an obesity and diabetes issue in schoolchildren. Providing school nutrition equipment allows schools to provide meals made from scratch, or modified scratch, so children will have healthier nutrition options. Bringing professional culinary workers back into the kitchen to cook again improves school nutrition. Partnering with local growers and grocery stores creates a local economic development tool and provides teaching opportunities in the curriculum. Meals made from scratch with foods provided by local farms keep students satiated. Awarding grants for small farms owned by school districts provides career and technical education opportunities, as well as a food supply for school districts, students, summer feeding programs, and local food banks. The Legislature should consider coordinating school nutrition equipment grants with renovations funded with grants through the School Construction Assistance Program.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Riccelli, prime sponsor; Erica Hallock, Empire Health Foundation; Mitch Denning, Alliance of Education Associations; and Charlie Brown, Franklin Pierce School District.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.