FINAL BILL REPORT

                                    SB 5982

                                   C 37 L 91

                              SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Replacing federal funding for free and reduced meals during the teachers' work stoppage.

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

BACKGROUND:

Under federal law, school districts are prohibited from using federal funds to serve students free and reduced price meals when students are not attending school.  This prohibition applies to the period of the statewide teachers' strike which began April 18, 1991.  One-quarter of the state's students are eligible for free and reduced price school lunches and breakfasts.  The federal government funds over 95 percent of the cost through the national school lunch program, the school breakfast program, and the special milk program.

SUMMARY:

An appropriation is made from the state general fund to the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to replace federal funding of free and reduced price meals lost due to the teachers' work stoppage that began April 18, 1991.

SPI may reimburse school districts for breakfasts and lunches they actually provide to children during the teachers' work stoppage, by the amount that normally would have been paid by the federal government.

Appropriation:  $2 million to the Superintendent of Public Instruction

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate      42    0

House 90    4     (House amended)

Senate      45    0     (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:  April 22, 1991