SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6425

As Passed Senate, February 18, 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:  Senators McAuliffe, Carlson, Fairley, Kohl‑Welles and Winsley.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  1/30/02, 1/31/02 [DP, DNP].

Passed Senate:  2/18/02, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Eide, Vice Chair; Carlson, Finkbeiner, Hewitt, Johnson, Kastama, Kohl‑Welles, Prentice, Rasmussen, Regala and Zarelli.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

Signed by Senator Hochstatter.

Staff:  Kelly Simpson (786‑7403)

Background:  Under current law, school districts may operate lunchrooms for students and staff and for school or employee functions.  However, expenditures for food supplies may not exceed estimated revenues.

Additionally, school districts may furnish meals at cost to the elderly, private school students, and children participating in educational activities conducted by nonprofit organizations.

Summary of Bill:  School districts may expand the access to their meal programs to include serving (1) volunteers, (2) public agencies or associations that serve public entities while using school facilities, and (3) other child nutrition programs.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The bill makes some technical changes that should have been made earlier in light of the services that current meal programs in schools are providing.  Additionally, numerous educational groups would benefit under the expanded access to public school meal programs.  Finally, as state resources for school meal programs continually decrease, this bill would help school districts raise additional revenue locally.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Doug Nelson, PSE; Dan Steele, WA State School Directors Assn.; Sharon Worgum, North Thurston School District; LouInda Heron, Mt. Baker School District.