Current Status Introducing Body:Senate Bill Number:996 Primary Sponsor:Fielding Committee Number:04 Type of Legislation:JR Subject:Breakfast Program, school districts Residing Body:Senate Current Committee:Education Companion Bill Number:4005 Computer Document Number:436/11733.DW Introduced Date:May 16, 1991 Last History Body:Senate Last History Date:Mar 17, 1992 Last History Type:Committed to Committee Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Fielding Nell W. Smith Type of Legislation:Joint Resolution
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN ---- ------ ------------ ------------------------------ --- 996 Senate Mar 17, 1992 Committed to Committee 04 996 Senate May 21, 1991 Read second time 996 Senate May 16, 1991 Introduced, read first time, placed on Calendar without referenceView additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
INTRODUCED
May 16, 1991
S. 996
S. Printed 5/16/91--S.
Read the first time May 16, 1991.
1. Estimated Cost to State-First Year $-0-
2. Estimated Cost to State-Annually
Thereafter $-0-
This Joint Resolution would require each public school district to implement a nutritional, well balanced school breakfast program for school year 1991-92. Currently, three hundred ninety-nine (399) out of the seven hundred one (701) "severe-need" schools have breakfast programs. A "severe-need" school is one where at least forty percent of the students qualify for free or discounted lunches.
The federal government reimburses all schools for every free and discounted breakfast served. In "severe-need" schools sufficient funds are to be provided by the federal government to guarantee that the breakfast programs break even. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reimburses all schools ninety cents for every free breakfast served and sixty cents for discounted breakfasts.
Presently, the cost statewide of the food services program (lunch and breakfast) is approximately 82% from federal funds and fees charged and 18% from local funds. The additional school breakfast program in this resolution would affect over 300 schools. The federal government would reimburse school districts approximately $9.3 million, as the program now exists, and this should be sufficient to pay for the program.
There would be no additional costs to the state general fund on implementing the joint resolution. Fixed costs at the local level for the lunch program are already in place and should carry over to the breakfast program. Other factors involved in implementing a breakfast program such as altering bus schedules and providing for supervision should be covered within the school district's normal operating budget and should have little or no impact to the local school district.
Prepared By: Approved By:
Les Boles George N. Dorn, Jr.
State Budget Analyst State Budget Division
TO REQUIRE EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE TO IMPLEMENT A NUTRITIONAL, WELL-BALANCED SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL YEAR 1991-92.
Whereas, of those schools with a high percentage of children from low-income families only sixty-five percent offer breakfast, even though the federal government is willing to underwrite the cost; and
Whereas, studies show that hungry school children score lower on achievement tests, are tardy more often, and have more health problems than school children who begin the day with breakfast; and
Whereas, of South Carolina's seven hundred one "severe-need" schools - those in which at least forty percent of the students qualify for free or discounted lunches - one hundred twelve do not serve youngsters a morning meal and another one hundred eight schools have twenty-five to forty percent eligible students for meals, but do not serve breakfast; and
Whereas, the United States Department of Agriculture reimbursed schools in 1990-91 ninety cents for every free breakfast and sixty cents for discounted breakfasts; and
Whereas, through additional federal reimbursement for these meals it is estimated that an additional nine million, three hundred thousand dollars will be realized as additional revenue in this State; and
Whereas, in severe-need schools, the federal agency provides sufficient additional funds to guarantee that the breakfast programs break even; and
Whereas, there is no valid reason for South Carolina's public schools not to serve breakfast to qualifying students. Now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 59-63-765 of the 1976 Code, for school year 1991-92 each school district shall implement in each school in the district a nutritional, well-balanced school breakfast program.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.