SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5672

BYSenators Lee, Rinehart, Bailey, Murray, Gaspard, Fleming, Anderson, Warnke and Bauer

Reinstating salary support for school food service employees.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 16, 1989; February 23, 1989

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Bailey, Chairman; Lee, Vice Chairman; Anderson, Bender, Benitz, Fleming, Gaspard, Metcalf, Murray, Rinehart.

Senate Staff:Leslie Goldstein (786-7424)

                  February 24, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 23, 1989

BACKGROUND:

In 1987-88, 258 of 296 school districts participated in the federal school lunch program.  In 1979, state salary support for the school lunch program was ended.  Currently, support for the lunch program comes from the following sources:  (1) lunch money receipts - 46 percent; (2) federal funds - 39 percent; (3) state funds - 3 percent; and (4) federal commodities - 12 percent.  In the past few years the average price of lunches has increased more slowly than the rate of inflation.  The price of lunches is the primary source of funds used for salary increases.  In 1986-87, there were 1,816 FTE classified food service employees at an average FTE salary of $15,348.  This number understates the actual number of employees and overstates their actual salaries since most of these employees work part-time.

SUMMARY:

In addition to other moneys appropriated by the Legislature for classified staff, money shall be provided for salary and benefit increases for food service personnel when the increases are provided for other classified personnel.

Appropriation:    unspecified

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested February 16, 1989

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Senate Committee - Testified: FOR:  Margaret Casey, Washington School Food Service Association; David Westberg, Operating Engineers; Dwayne Slate, Washington State School Directors' Association