THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	851
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

making an emergency appropriation to the department of education.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

SECTION 1.  This Act is recommended by the governor for immediate passage in accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

SECTION 2.  The department of education's school food services branch assists two-hundred and fifty-five department schools with feeding approximately one hundred thousand students and staff daily.  The school food services branch provides technical training and assistance to all department of education schools to ensure that federal compliance and regulations are met.

In fiscal year 2009-2010, general fund support for this program was $34,900,000.  Comparatively, in fiscal year 2014-2015, support for the program decreased to $19,000,000, a $15,900,000 reduction.  This forty-six per cent decrease coincided with rapid increases in labor and commodity costs but was intentional due to the large working capital reserves available to supplement the program.  Total program cost has risen from $95,600,000 in fiscal year 2009-2010 to a projected $111,000,000 in fiscal year 2015-2016 and $111,800,000 in fiscal year 2016-2017.  For several years, the program has been able to rely on cash balances from its special funds as a result of collections from paid meals and federal funds from United States Department of Agriculture's National School Lunch Program reimbursements, which are primarily for free and reduced lunch for qualified students to balance the program's budget.  The special and federal fund balances are no longer able to meet the school food services branch program requirements within the existing general fund appropriation.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for fiscal year 2014-2015 to meet the projected shortfall for school food service programs, to ensure compliance with United States Department of Agriculture's regulatory nutritional and staffing requirements, and to ensure the continuity of food services to students and staff.

SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $9,900,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 to continue to meet the projected shortfall for school food service programs.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Education; Food Services; Emergency Appropriation

 

Description:

Provides an emergency appropriation for fiscal year 2014-2015 for food services in the Department of Education.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.