Assigned to EDUC & APPROP                                                                                                          FOR COMMITTEE


 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1311

 

food security programs

 

Purpose

 

            Appropriates $2.9 million from the state general fund to the Department of Education in FY 2000-2001 for food security programs and services.

 

Background

 

This legislation is based on the recommendations made by the Joint Legislative Committee on Hunger.

 

During the academic school year or during school breaks, school-aged children from low-income families are eligible to receive free meals when schools or other sponsoring entities offer these meals.  In Arizona, 348 schools do not offer the School Breakfast Program, according to the Association of Arizona Food Banks.  The federal reimbursement of $1.09 for every breakfast provided through the School Breakfast Program is less than the state’s average school cost to prepare and serve a student breakfast. 

 

            There are currently 32 states that have a School Breakfast legislation in place and 18 states offer state funds as incentives or assistance to schools to offer school breakfast, some through grants and others through per-meal reimbursements that supplement federal funds.  

 

S.B. 1311 appropriates $2.9 million in FY 2000-20001 from the state general fund to the Department of Education for food security programs. 

 

Provisions

 

1.      Appropriates $2.9 million from the state general fund to the Department of Education in FY 2000-2001 for food security programs and services as follows:

 

·        Requires $2,400,000 to be used to subsidize the School Breakfast Program, including up to 10 cents per meal for each participating child.  

·        Requires $500,000 to be used to subsidize the Summer Food Service Program. Allows $1,000 to be distributed to each organization providing summer food programs for at least seven weeks and to organizations that provide programs during all vacation periods for year-round or extended-year schools.

 

2.      Provides for a general effective date.

 

Prepared by Senate Staff         

January 24, 2000