SENATE BILL REPORT

 

                          E2SSB 6157

 

              AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 11, 1994

 

 

Brief Description:  Addressing hunger in the state of Washington.

 

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Talmadge, Winsley, Wojahn, McAuliffe and Fraser)

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

 

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6157 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means. 

     Signed by Senators Talmadge, Chairman; Wojahn, Vice Chairman; Deccio, Erwin, Franklin, Fraser, Hargrove, McAuliffe, Moyer, Niemi, Prentice, L. Smith and Winsley.

 

Staff:  Joanne Conrad (786‑7472)

 

Hearing Dates: January 19, 1994; February 2, 1994

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

 

Majority Report:  That Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 6157 be substituted therefor, and the second substitute bill do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Rinehart, Chairman; Quigley, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Gaspard, Hargrove, Hochstatter, Ludwig, Moyer, Niemi, Pelz, L. Smith, Snyder, Spanel, Talmadge, West and Wojahn.

 

Staff:  Linda Brownell (786-7913)

 

Hearing Dates: February 8, 1994

 

 

BACKGROUND:

 

In July, 1993 the Senate Health and Human Services Committee held a hearing on hunger in Washington State.  Many persons expressed concern about the growing demand for food assistance, the special needs of populations such as children and the elderly, and the barriers to effectiveness created by lack of connectivity among state food programs.  An Interim Study Project on Hunger received recommendations and comment from a representative array of state and private entities concerned with improving food policy in Washington State.  This legislation arose from those recommendations.

 

SUMMARY:

 

The office of Antihunger Coordinator is established in the Department of General Administration to contact, monitor, coordinate and provide technical support among new and existing state food programs.  The Information and Referral Service for Food Donation Program in the Department of Agriculture is repealed.

 

The federal Model Good Samaritan Food Donation Act is codified, to limit liability of non-negligent donors and gleaners of food and grocery products.  The former Good Samaritan Act is repealed.

 

Agricultural Commodities Commissions adopt rules to encourage and facilitate the voluntary gleaning and donation of surplus commodities and nonmarketable product.

 

The Washington National Guard, in cooperation with the Antihunger Coordinator, provides labor and equipment for transportation and distribution of food and grocery products, consistent with resources.

 

Trained inmate labor is provided at no cost to food donors or charitable institutions for the voluntary gleaning and distribution of food and grocery products for charitable purposes.

 

The Transportation Commission, in cooperation with the Department of Health and the Antihunger Coordinator, identifies barriers to improved utilization of donated backhauling and transport of donated food products.

 

The Department of Fish and Wildlife, with the Department of Corrections and the Antihunger Coordinator, researches enhancement of existing charitable use of surplus fish.

 

School districts without school lunch programs develop plans and establish timelines for instituting such programs.

 

The Superintendent of Public Instruction identifies severe-needs schools, and applies for all available federal funds for school lunch and breakfast program outreach and summer food service program outreach.

 

Schools with existing breakfast or lunch programs assess whether students have sufficient time to be served and eat, and allow more time if necessary.

 

School districts ensure that food sold on school grounds is consistent with dietary guidelines as specified.

 

The Department of Health establishes a WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Capacity-Building Task Force, and considers implementation of enhanced cost-containment options.

 

The Department of Social and Health Services, with voluntary participation of financial and grocery industries, studies use of electronic benefit transfer technology for food stamps.

 

The Department of Social and Health Services develops outcome measures to determine the progress of senior nutrition program efforts.

 

Appropriation:  none

 

Revenue:  none

 

Fiscal Note:   available

 

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

 

TESTIMONY FOR (Health & Human Services):

 

Reduction in the level of unmet food and nutritional needs will improve the health of Washingtonians, especially children and older persons.  Children need adequate nutrition to perform well in school, and school food programs need enhancement.  The WIC program needs to build capacity to serve more women and children.  Tribal and senior populations need nutritionalist services.  State agencies should coordinate more effectively to help feed persons in need.

 

TESTIMONY AGAINST (Health & Human Services):

 

Legislation should not extend "Good Samaritan" protection from donor liability to food banks and distributors that require shared maintenance fees.

 

TESTIFIED (Health & Human Services):  PRO:  Kathleen Clark, WA State Dietetic Assn.; Sue Butkus, Maria Fanas, Margaret Viebach, Treena Welch, Patrick Welch, Consuelo Coronel, Maria Jesus Andrade, Doris Torkelson, WA State University Extension Nutrition Education Program; Winnie Nazarko, Food Lifeline; David Westberg, Stationary Engineers; Jamie Fisher, Harbor High School; Diane Schmidt, Friendship House; Carol Johnson, Washington School Food Service Assn.; Margaret Casey, Antihunger and Nutrition Coalition; Diane Armbrost, Public Health Nutritionist; Mary Podrrabsky, Senior Services of Seattle-King County; Betty Marcelynas, OSPI; CON:  Ruth Veloso, Northwest Harvest

 

TESTIMONY FOR (Ways & Means):

 

There is great support for the state to play a major coordinating role in combating hunger.

 

TESTIMONY AGAINST (Ways & Means):  None

 

TESTIFIED (Ways & Means):  Margaret Casey (pro)