SENATE BILL REPORT

ESSB 5759

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

Establishing a school breakfast program.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 16, 1989; February 23, 1989

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5759 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Bailey, Chairman; Lee, Vice Chairman; Bender, Benitz, Gaspard, Metcalf, Murray, Rinehart.

Senate Staff:Susan Finkel (786-7483)

                  April 13, 1989

House Committe on Education

AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 10, 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:

Districts identified as having severe need schools are required to implement the federally reimbursed school breakfast program beginning with the second day of school in the 1990-91 school year.

Districts that have schools with 25-39 percent of the children participating in the federally supported free or reduced lunch program must implement the federally reimbursed school breakfast program beginning with the second day of school of the 1991-92 school year.

Funds for the breakfasts supplied to eligible children are from the federally supported free breakfast program.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Linda Smith, Governor's Task Force on Hunger (pro); Marie Korsmo, principal, James Sales Elementary School (pro); Kathleen Clark, nutritionist (pro); Kris VanGorkom, Washington Association of School Directors

HOUSE AMENDMENTS:

The SPI is directed to conduct a study to determine why some schools are not participating in the federally funded breakfast program and shall report its findings to the Legislature before January 15, 1990.  School districts are required to develop and implement a school breakfast program in severe need schools.

The SPI shall adopt a schedule for implementing school breakfast programs in severe need schools as follows:

School districts where 40 percent or more lunches served to students are free or reduced price lunches shall implement a school breakfast program in the severe need schools no later than the beginning of the 1990-91 school year.

School districts where 25-39 percent of lunches served to students are free or reduced price shall implement the breakfast program in all severe need schools by the beginning of the 1991-92 school year.

School districts where less than 25 percent of lunches served to students are free or reduced price lunches shall implement a school breakfast program in severe need schools by the beginning of the 1992-93 school year.

SPI is directed to conduct a study of the costs and feasibility of expanding the school breakfast program to include schools where 25-39 percent of lunches served are free or reduced price.  This study is submitted to the Legislature prior to January 15, 1992.