04/08/2010 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

SENATE BILL NO. 213                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act providing for funding for school lunch and                                                                         
     breakfast."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
GEORGE  ESCOTT, STAFF,  SENATOR  BILL WIELECHOWSKI,  thanked                                                                    
the committee and the sponsors  for bringing the legislation                                                                    
to Senator  Wielechowski's attention.  He explained  that SB
 will provide a state  match for schools participating in                                                                    
the  federal Free  and Reduced  Price  School Breakfast  and                                                                    
Lunch  Program. It  will encourage  more schools  to provide                                                                    
nutritious  meals  for  underprivileged children  and  allow                                                                    
schools that  already do so  to improve their  programs. For                                                                    
every free  and reduced-price breakfast the  federal program                                                                    
funds,  the state  will provide  a  match of  35 cents.  For                                                                    
every  free  and  reduced-price lunch  the  federal  program                                                                    
funds, the state will provide a match of 15 cents.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Escott  reported that  a large  majority of  states make                                                                    
some contribution  to school lunches and  breakfasts. Alaska                                                                    
is  one of  the few  that does  not. Under  this legislation                                                                    
most schools will receive some  assistance through a funding                                                                    
formula  based  on  the   applicable  school  district  cost                                                                    
factor.  Numerous studies  have documented  that eliminating                                                                    
hunger in  children increases school  performance, increases                                                                    
school  attendance, decreases  school violence,  and combats                                                                    
obesity. By dealing with these  programs now, the state will                                                                    
prevent more  costly future problems. Mr.  Escott added that                                                                    
there   were   numerous   letters  of   support   for   this                                                                    
legislation.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:45:41 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  noted one fiscal note  from the Department                                                                    
of Education  and Early Development  reflecting the  cost of                                                                    
establishing the program for $1,671,30  in general funds for                                                                    
FY 11.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:46:07 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ROBIN  STILWELL, DIRECTOR,  FOOD BANK  OF ALASKA,  ANCHORAGE                                                                    
(via  teleconference), spoke  of the  advantages of  funding                                                                    
breakfasts and  lunches at school.  She related the  cuts in                                                                    
federal  funds and  how some  schools are  run under  a fund                                                                    
deficit.  She used  Haines as  an example  of a  school that                                                                    
does provide  meals, but  that does  not participate  in the                                                                    
National  School  Lunch  Program. In  some  communities  the                                                                    
schools do  not receive a  federal match because  they don't                                                                    
have  the  staff  to administer  the  federal  program.  She                                                                    
estimated  that over  10,000 meals  are missed  each day  by                                                                    
Alaskan students  that eligible  for reduced  meal programs.                                                                    
She testified in support of SB 213.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
9:48:42 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DEAN HAMBURG, ALASKA  SCHOOL NUTRITION ASSOCIATION, SOLDOTNA                                                                    
(via teleconference), spoke  in favor of SB  213. He related                                                                    
facts about USDA support to  schools for meals. He said that                                                                    
40 percent of Alaskan families  qualify for school meals. He                                                                    
called SB 213  a meaningful and effective  support to assist                                                                    
with school meal programs.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:50:57 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Huggins noted  that he  and others  support quality                                                                    
nutrition  programs  in  the   schools.  He  voiced  concern                                                                    
whether the  increase in funding would  increase the quality                                                                    
of  the meals.  He  referred  to an  example  of  a meal  he                                                                    
thought was  unhealthy. He wondered what  controls were used                                                                    
to ensure quality meals.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Hamburg reported  that USDA  school  meal programs  are                                                                    
current with nutrition requirements  and are closely aligned                                                                    
with standards. He stated that  his program is an example of                                                                    
good nutrition.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:55:28 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman questioned  the inequities  in the  fiscal                                                                    
note.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
EDDY  JEANS,  DIRECTOR,   SCHOOL  FINANCES  AND  FACILITIES,                                                                    
DEPARTMENT  OF EDUCATION  AND EARLY  DEVELOPMENT, could  not                                                                    
answer why  there was  a wide discrepancy  in the  number of                                                                    
school   lunches  from   each  district.   Co-Chair  Stedman                                                                    
commented  on how  important school  meals are.  He noted  a                                                                    
higher incidence of meals served in rural areas.