HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESSB 5759

As Amended by the House

BYSenate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Bailey, Rinehart, Lee, Warnke, Talmadge, Moore, Bauer and Stratton)

Establishing a school breakfast program.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments.  (13)

      Signed by Representatives Peery, Chair; G. Fisher, Vice Chair; Cole, Dorn, Holland, Jones, P. King, Phillips, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Valle and K. Wilson.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (4)

      Signed by Representatives Betrozoff, Ranking Republican Member; Brumsickle, Fuhrman and Horn.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended by Committee on Education.  (20)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; H. Sommers, Vice Chair; Youngsman, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Belcher, Bowman, Brekke, Bristow, Dorn, Hine, Holland, May, Peery, Rust, Sayan, Spanel, Sprenkle, Valle, Wang and Wineberry.

Minority Report:  Do not pass. (6)

      Signed by Representatives Silver, Ranking Minority Member; Doty, Ferguson, McLean, Nealey and Padden.

House Staff:      Janet Peterson (786-7136)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 12, 1989

BACKGROUND:

In October 1988, the Governor's Task Force on Hunger called for the increased utilization of the national school lunch and breakfast program.  The task force recommended that the serving of breakfast be mandated in all schools where more than 25 percent of the students are eligible for free or reduced price meals.  Where 40 percent or more of the children participating in the school lunch program qualify for a free and reduced priced lunch, schools receive $.95 for each free breakfast served.  In the 1989-90 school year that will increase to $.98 per breakfast.  These schools are identified as severe need schools.  If the school is not identified as a severe need school, the reimbursement for each free breakfast is $.79 and will increase to $.82 in the 1989-90 school year.

SUMMARY:

A school breakfast program shall be implemented in severe need schools over a three year time schedule.  A severe need school is a school building where 40 percent or more of the students participating in the National School Lunch Program are receiving free or reduced price lunches.  School districts with 40 percent or more of their students receiving free or reduced price lunches shall implement a breakfast program in their severe need schools in the 1990-91 school year.  School districts with 25 to less than 40 percent of their students receiving free or reduced price lunches shall implement a breakfast program in the 1991-92 school year.  All other school districts shall implement a breakfast program in severe need schools in the 1992-93 school year.  The breakfast program requirement shall lapse if the federal reimbursement is reduced or eliminated.  The program is to be supported entirely by federal grants, commodities and charges to students.  No state funding or basic education obligation is implied.  A study shall be conducted by the Superintendent of Public Instruction to determine why some districts have elected not to participate in the National School Lunch Program.  A second study shall determine the cost of offering a breakfast program in schools with 25 to 39 percent of the students receiving free or reduced price lunches.

Fiscal Note:      Requested March 13, 1989.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Education) Kathleen Clark, Washington State Dietetic Association and Washington State Food and Nutrition Council; Janice Skinner, Committee on Handicapped People; Tony Lee, Washington Association of Churches, Association of Washington School Principals; Judy Hartmann, Washington Education Association.

(Appropriations) None Presented.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Education) None Presented.

(Appropriations) None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Education) A child cannot concentrate on learning when he or she is hungry.  When we have the ability to provide food for these children, it should be provided.

(Appropriations) None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Education) None Presented.

(Appropriations) None Presented.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 74; Nays 21; Excused 3

Voting Nay: Representatives Ballard, Baugher, Betrozoff, Chandler, Doty, Fuhrman, Horn, May, McLean, Moyer, Nealey, Padden, Rayburn, Schmidt, Silver, Smith, Walk, Walker, Wolfe, Youngsman and Zellinsky

Excused:    Representatives Gallagher, Hankins and D. Sommers