HOUSE BILL REPORT

                E2SSB 6157

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      State Government

Title:  An act relating to the 1994 omnibus antihunger act.

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).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

State Government, February 24, 1994, DPA.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Anderson, Chair; Veloria, Vice Chair; Reams, Ranking Minority Member; L. Thomas, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Campbell; Conway; Dyer; King and Pruitt.

Staff:  Dave Knutson (786-7146).

Background:  Hunger and malnutrition are problems facing large segments of Washington states' population.  Efforts to alleviate hunger and malnutrition are currently underway in state agencies, local government, schools, non-profit organizations, food producers, transporters, retailers, and other organizations.  Coordination activities for antihunger programs are not currently required among state agencies addressing this issue.

Summary of Amended Bill:  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.  A Model Good Samaritan Food Donation Act is established which limits the liability of non-negligent donors and gleaners of food and grocery products.  Existing statutes related to good samaritan acts are repealed.  Agricultural Commodities Commissions are encouraged to facilitate the voluntary gleaning and donation of surplus commodities and nonmarketable product.  The Washington National Guard, in cooperation with the Antihunger Coordinator, will provide labor and equipment for transportation and distribution of food and grocery products, consistent with available resources.  The Department of Corrections is required to provide trained inmate labor at no cost to food donors or charitable institutions for the voluntary gleaning and distribution of food and grocery products for charitable purposes.

The Utilities and Transportation Commission, in cooperation with the Department of Health and the Antihunger Coordinator, will identify barriers to improved utilization of donated backhauling and transport of donated food products.  School districts without school lunch programs will develop plans and establish timelines for instituting such programs.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction will identify severe-needs schools, and apply 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 will assess whether students have sufficient time to be served and eat, and allow more time if necessary.  School districts will ensure that food sold on school grounds is consistent with dietary guidelines as specified.

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

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

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

Amended Bill Compared to Engrossed Second Substitute Bill:  The definition of a person under the good samaritan act is modified to include a trust or processor.  The prohibition against supplementing state funds with federal funds in the Women, Infant and Children program is removed.  For-profit entities are authorized to donate food to non-profit organizations.  The requirement that the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Corrections use surplus fish to feed prison inmates and clients of the Department of Social and Health Services is removed.  A null and void clause related to the Antihunger Coordinator and his or her responsibilities is added.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 21, 1994.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Greater coordination between food producers and entities involved in the regulation and delivery of food and food products will lessen hunger in Washington.

Testimony Against:  Entities donating food should not be allowed to charge non-profit organizations a nominal fee.  State funds for the Women, Infant and Children program should not be supplemented with federal funds.

Witnesses:  Senator Talmadge, prime sponsor (pro); Margaret Casey, Washington State Dietetic Association (pro); Mike Levinson, General Administration (pro); Betty Marcelynas, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (pro); David Westberg, Station Engineers (pro); Henry Seaman, Northwest Harvest (con); Reverend Ken Miller, Union Gospel Mission (pro); Kathleen Britton, Government Relations (pro); and Jeff Cox, Washington Retail Association (pro).