S*0701 Resolution, By Shealy, Hutto and Jackson
 A SENATE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE THE DEVASTATING IMPACT OF CHILD HUNGER ON OUR
 STATE'S YOUNGEST CITIZENS AND TO ENCOURAGE ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS IN OUR STATE TO
 MAXIMIZE ACCESS TO HEALTHY MEALS AT NO COST FOR CHILDREN IN POVERTY BY
 ADOPTING THE COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION OF THE HEALTHY, HUNGER-FREE KIDS
 ACT.

   05/04/17  Senate Introduced (Senate Journal-page 7)
   05/04/17  Senate Referred to Committee on General
                     (Senate Journal-page 7)
   05/09/17  Senate Polled out of committee General (Senate Journal-page 7)
   05/09/17  Senate Committee report: Favorable General
                     (Senate Journal-page 7)
   05/10/17         Scrivener's error corrected
   05/10/17  Senate Adopted (Senate Journal-page 61)

POLLED OUT OF COMMITTEE

MAJORITY FAVORABLE

May 9, 2017

S. 701

Introduced by Senators Shealy, Hutto and Jackson

S. Printed 5/9/17--S.    [SEC 5/10/17 12:34 PM]

Read the first time May 4, 2017.

To whom was referred a Senate Resolution (S. 701) to recognize the devastating impact of child hunger on our State's youngest citizens and to encourage eligible schools in our state to maximize access to healthy meals at no cost for children in, etc., respectfully

Has polled the Senate Resolution out majority favorable.

TO RECOGNIZE THE DEVASTATING IMPACT OF CHILD HUNGER ON OUR STATE'S YOUNGEST CITIZENS AND TO ENCOURAGE ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS IN OUR STATE TO MAXIMIZE ACCESS TO HEALTHY MEALS AT NO COST FOR CHILDREN IN POVERTY BY ADOPTING THE COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION OF THE HEALTHY, HUNGER-FREE KIDS ACT.

Whereas, according to US Census data, rates of poverty and food insecurity among both children and households in South Carolina are on the rise; and

Whereas, an estimated two hundred fifty-three thousand of South Carolina's children lack consistent access to nutritionally adequate foods due to economic hardship and a lack of resources; and

Whereas, children living with food insecurity are at a significantly greater risk for illness, nutrient deficiency, delayed development, obesity, behavioral problems, and educational challenges; and

Whereas, child hunger and malnutrition in South Carolina strain our state's financial and medical resources, act as barriers to the growth of healthy communities, and threaten our investments in education; and

Whereas, increasing participation in the federal school nutrition programs provides an effective, consistent, and cost-efficient means for reducing child hunger in South Carolina; and

Whereas, families struggling to put food on the table need and deserve the support of their own communities and the entire State of South Carolina; and

Whereas, the Community Eligibility Provision of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 provides local educational agencies and schools in low-income areas with an alternative approach for operating school meal programs; and

Whereas, the Community Eligibility Provision is an option that allows schools with high percentages of low-income children to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students, essentially becoming hunger-free schools; and

Whereas, fifty-one percent of eligible schools in the State already participate in the Community Eligibility Provision and serve two healthy meals per day to all students; and

Whereas, child hunger is a social, political, and public health issue that requires the attention of South Carolina's leaders. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, declare it to be in the best interest of South Carolina schools to maximize participation in federal school nutrition programs and for the State of South Carolina to support greater accessibility to these programs and expansion of the services they offer.

Be it further resolved that the members of the South Carolina Senate encourage school districts or groupings of schools eligible to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision that are not doing so to submit an application to the USDA, Food and Nutrition Service to apply to implement the provision and to access the technical assistance available from the State Department of Education's Office of Health and Nutrition.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to Superintendent Molly Spearman at the State Department of Education.