HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6425

As Passed House:

March 5, 2002

Title:  An act relating to authorizing access to school meal programs and kitchen facilities.

Brief Description:  Authorizing access to school meal programs and kitchen facilities.

Sponsors:  By Senators McAuliffe, Carlson, Fairley, Kohl‑Welles and Winsley.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Education:  2/26/02, 2/27/02 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 3/5/02, 85-11.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Revises the law that permits school districts to operate lunchrooms for students and employees, to permit the districts to operate meal programs in school buildings and to serve volunteers and organizations meeting in those buildings as well as students and school employees.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass. Signed by 11 members: Representatives Quall, Chair; Haigh, Vice Chair; Talcott, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Cox, McDermott, Rockefeller, Santos, Schindler, Schmidt and Upthegrove.

Staff:  Susan Morrissey (786‑7111).

Background:

Under current law, school districts may establish, equip, and operate lunchrooms in school buildings for students and school employees, and for school and employee functions.  Since the adoption of the law, the function of school meal programs has expanded to include breakfasts for students, meals for educational organizations meeting in school facilities, participation in a variety of governmentally sponsored nutrition programs for children, and other functions hosted by school districts.  Auditors have questioned whether current law permits school districts to use their lunchrooms for these expanded activities.

Summary of Bill:

School districts may establish, equip, and operate meal programs in school buildings.  The programs may be provided for students; school employees; volunteers; public agencies; political subdivisions or associations that serve public entities while using school facilities; other state, local, or federal child nutrition programs; and school or employee functions.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

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

Testimony For:  School employees provide students, teachers, parents, volunteers, and others with healthy, nutritious, and creative meals.  This legislation permits schools to lawfully prepare and serve the meals that most districts are currently providing to students, volunteers, parents, and school organizations.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator McAuliffe, prime sponsor; Shirley Vander Vorste, Public School Employees of Washington; Greg Williamson, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; and Dan Steele, Washington State School Directors= Association.