122nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 796 LR 0681(01)
An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Study Public Health That Concern Schools, Children and Nutrition
Fiscal Note for Original Bill
Sponsor: Sen. Martin of Aroostook
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
   
             
Fiscal Note
Current Cost - State Mandate
Projections Projections
2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $50,391 $72,080 $77,126 $82,524
Appropriations/Allocations
General Fund $50,391 $72,080 $77,126 $82,524
State Mandate
New or Expanded Activity Unit Affected Costs
Placing certain requirements on school administrative units is a State mandate.  These requirements include: School Significant
 - Providing nutrition education for students, teachers and staff and must           include an outreach component to parents
 - Providing that food service programs post certain nutritional information for menu items after August 31, 2007.
 - Providing a report to parents of students who participated in the Body Mass Index assessment with the results.
 - Establishing the number of minutes of physical activity that students must participate in per week.
 - Including a provision in future collective bargaining agreements that allows teachers and students no less than a 20 minute lunch period each school day.
To the extent that school administrative units already fulfill these requirements through existing health programs, the additional cost of these measures may be mitigated.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
The Learning Systems program within the Department of Education will require additional General Fund appropriations of $50,391 in fiscal year 2005-06 and $72,080 in fiscal year 2006-07 to establish a Physical Education Consultant position effective October 1, 2005.  The Governor's proposed supplemental, "Part 2", budget includes a General Fund request of $67,913 in fiscal year 2005-06 and $73,124 in fiscal year 2006-07 to establish one Education Specialist III position in the Learning Systems program to serve as a Physical Education Consultant.  This estimate of the fiscal impact may need to be adjusted based on final legislative actions on the "Part 2" budget.
Any additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services, the Attorney General and the Department of Agriculture can be absorbed utilizing existing budgeted resources.