S-1753

AN ACT Relating to hunger and nutrition; adding new sections to chapter 74.04 RCW; adding new sections to Title 28A RCW; creating new sections; making appropriations; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. Hunger and malnutrition threaten the future of a whole generation of children in Washington. Children who are hungry or malnourished are unable to function optimally in the classroom and are thus at risk of lower achievement in school. The resultant diminished future capacity of and opportunities for these children will affect this state's economic and social future. Thus, the legislature finds that the state has an interest in helping families provide nutritious meals to children.

The legislature also finds that the state has an interest in helping hungry and malnourished adults obtain necessary nourishment. Adequate nourishment is necessary for physical health, and physical health is the foundation of self‑sufficiency. Adequate nourishment is especially critical in the case of pregnant and lactating women, both to ensure that all mothers and babies are as healthy as possible and to minimize the costs associated with the care of low‑birthweight babies.

PART I

WIC

NEW SECTION. Sec. 101. The legislature finds that the special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children has proven effective in preventing infant mortality, reducing the number of undernourished children with retarded growth, reducing the incidence of delayed cognitive development and decreasing the number of low‑birthweight babies. However, not all of the eligible mothers and children in this state are currently served by the program. Therefore, the legislature intends to increase the number of eligible women and children served by the program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 102. The sum of twelve million four hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, from the general fund to the department of health for the purpose of increasing the number of eligible women, infants, and children served by the special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children.

PART II

EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

NEW SECTION. Sec. 201. The legislature finds that the emergency food assistance program has been successful in defraying the costs of operating food banks and food distribution programs in the state. However, current resources are inadequate to meet the needs of the hungry and malnourished people in this state. Additional funding for the emergency food assistance program is needed to provide for the purchase, transportation, and storage of food and to support the operation of food banks, food distribution programs, and tribal voucher programs.

Additionally, many of the people who receive food from food banks have special nutritional needs that are not currently being met. These include infants and children with disabilities, pregnant and lactating women, adults with chronic diseases, people with acquired immune deficiency syndrome, people with lactose intolerance, people who have difficulty chewing, alcoholics, intravenous drug users, and people with cultural food preferences. The legislature finds that additional funds to provide special nutritional foods are necessary and that training regarding these special nutritional needs is needed for food bank staff and volunteers.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 202. The sum of two million three hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, from the general fund to the department of community development for the purpose of supporting the operation of food banks, food distribution programs, and tribal voucher programs and providing for the purchase, transportation, and storage of food under the emergency food assistance program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 203. The sum of one million four hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, from the general fund to the department of community development for the purpose of purchasing food for persons with special nutritional needs and training food bank staff and volunteers regarding persons with special nutritional needs as specified in section 201 of this act.

PART III

FOOD STAMPS

NEW SECTION. Sec. 301. The legislature finds that delays in receiving food stamps often drive hungry families to food banks. Expediting the issuance of food stamps to eligible applicants will ease some of the pressure on the food bank system. The legislature also finds that some of those who currently apply for the expedited issuance of food stamps are not receiving them within the five-day waiting period. Therefore, the department is directed to issue food stamps to eligible applicants within twenty-four hours of application.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 302. A new section is added to chapter 74.04 RCW to read as follows:

The department shall issue expedited food stamps to eligible recipients within twenty‑four hours of application. The department shall establish an eligibility process for the expedited issuance of food stamps that conforms to federal requirements and results in the least additional workload increase to department staff.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 303. A new section is added to chapter 74.04 RCW to read as follows:

In determining food stamp need and eligibility, the department shall exclude as income the child support exempted by 42 U.S.C. Sec. 657 (b) or 602 (a)(8)(A)(vi).

NEW SECTION. Sec. 304. The sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, from the general fund to the department of social and health services for the purpose of implementing section 301 of this act.

PART IV

NUTRITIONAL PROGRAMS

NEW SECTION. Sec. 401. The legislature finds that the school breakfast and lunch programs, the summer feeding program, and the child and adult day care feeding programs authorized by the United States department of agriculture are effective in addressing unmet nutritional needs. However, some communities in the state do not participate in these programs. The result is hunger, malnutrition, and inadequate nutrition education for otherwise eligible persons living in nonparticipating communities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 402. A new section is added to Title 28A RCW to read as follows:

The superintendent of public instruction shall aggressively solicit eligible schools, child and adult day care centers, and other organizations to participate in the nutrition programs authorized by the United States department of agriculture.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 403. A new section is added to Title 28A RCW to read as follows:

The superintendent of public instruction shall:

(1) Provide start-up funds for school breakfast programs in those schools not qualifying as "severe need schools" as defined in chapter 239, Laws of 1989;

(2) Provide funds for school districts to start or restart school lunch programs;

(3) Provide an additional 10 cents per meal reimbursement for all meals served to children in schools. The per meal reimbursement shall be adjusted annually to reflect the cost of living using a process approved by the United States department of agriculture;

(4) Establish a marketing, promotion, education, and training program for use by all child nutrition programs;

(5) In coordination with the department of health and other organizations, develop and distribute material and provide training to help child nutrition programs comply with United States department of agriculture guidelines;

(6) In coordination with other agencies, allocate and administer national nutrition education training funds; and

(7) In coordination with other organizations, develop a media campaign to educate the public about child nutrition programs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 404. The sum of twelve million four hundred eighty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, from the general fund to the office of the superintendent of public instruction for the purpose of implementing section 403 of this act.

PART V

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW SECTION. Sec. 501. Following the 1991 legislative session, the senate children and family services committee and the house of representatives human services committee shall conduct a joint interim study on:

(1) The need for nutrition programs for at‑risk youth;

(2) The nutritional needs of persons served in out‑of‑home care settings;

(3) The nutritional needs of senior citizens; and

(4) The nutritional needs of persons under the age of sixty who receive services through the long‑term care system.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 502. Parts and headings as used in this act constitute no part of the law.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 503. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 504. 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 July 1, 1991.