BILL REQ. #:  S-0802.1 

Read first time 01/20/09.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education.

     AN ACT Relating to feeding hungry children through school breakfast and lunch programs and summer food service programs; amending RCW 28A.235.150 and 28A.235.155; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that children put a face on a troubled economy. As families lose their livelihoods and their homes, it becomes more difficult for them to ensure their children receive adequate nutrition. Despite the challenges also faced by the state in a troubled economy, it is the legislature's intent to maintain its current commitment, to the maximum extent possible, to feed hungry low-income students in public schools at no cost to the students. It is the intent of the legislature to ensure that all low-income students in public schools receive a nutritious school breakfast at no charge, and all low-income students in elementary schools receive school lunch at no charge. It is the legislature's goal over time to phase in the free provision of school lunches to all low-income students at all grade levels. It is further the intent of the legislature to invest strategically in capacity building and provision of meals to low-income children during the summer months because children continue to need nutritious meals when school is not in operation during the summer.

Sec. 2   RCW 28A.235.150 and 1993 c 333 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) To the extent funds are appropriated, the superintendent of public instruction may award grants to school districts to increase participation in school breakfast and lunch programs, to improve program quality, and to improve the equipment and facilities used in the programs. School districts shall demonstrate that they have applied for applicable federal funds before applying for funds under this subsection.
     (2) To the extent funds are appropriated, the superintendent of public instruction shall increase the state support for school breakfasts and lunches.
     (3) The legislature shall appropriate funds for allocation to school districts sufficient to:
     (a) Eliminate the copayment for breakfast for all students qualifying for reduced-price lunch; and
     (b) In any school that enrolls students in any of grades preschool through six, eliminate the copayment for lunch for all students qualifying for reduced-price lunch in the school.

Sec. 3   RCW 28A.235.155 and 1993 c 333 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall administer funds for the federal summer food service program. To the extent funds are appropriated, the superintendent of public instruction shall provide state support for summer food service programs. State funds received by organizations operating summer food service programs must be used to support operating costs of the program, including food and labor costs, unless specific appropriations for nonoperating costs are provided.
     (2) The superintendent of public instruction may award grants, to the extent funds are appropriated, to eligible organizations to help start new summer food service programs for children or to help expand summer food services for children. The superintendent of public instruction shall conduct two cycles of grant awards per school year, with a fall cycle of grants of up to twenty thousand dollars to build local capacity to provide summer food service programs and a spring cycle of grants of up to five thousand dollars for expenses related to providing outreach and for planning and administrative tasks associated with initiating a new program. Organizations receiving grants in the fall cycle must outline target communities, potential service sites, and partnering organizations in their grant application and provide background information and evidence of successful community program development.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall report to the education committees of the legislature by January 15, 2011, on the use of the grants provided under section 3 of this act and on outcomes related to the summer food service programs, including the number of children who were provided meals through the programs in the summer of 2009 and 2010.