Resolve, To Establish a Working Group To Aid with the End of Student Hunger

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  Maine ranks first in New England in food insecurity; and

Whereas,  Maine has failed to use up to $30,000,000 per year of federal funding for student meals; and

Whereas,  the Task Force To End Student Hunger in Maine has compiled a 5-year plan to end student hunger, including the convening of a working group to review the options available under state and federal law and address any barriers to ending student hunger; and

Whereas,  in order to ensure that the working group has adequate time to prepare its report, it is critical that the working group be convened by March 1, 2015; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Community Eligibility Provision working group. Resolved: That, by March 1, 2015, the Department of Education shall convene a working group to review the opportunities and challenges of the Community Eligibility Provision in the United States Department of Agriculture, study best practices related to the Community Eligibility Provision for school administrative units, address barriers to the use of the Community Eligibility Provision and make recommendations to the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services. The Department of Education shall, on behalf of the working group, issue a report to the Legislature and the Governor by April 30, 2015. In the report, the working group shall specifically review options for reconciling the differing requirements for the use of the Community Eligibility Provision and for reimbursement under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Public Law 89-10 and for essential programs and services funding and shall recommend any needed legislation, rule changes or alternative solutions to address these issues.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

The Task Force To End Student Hunger in Maine, as authorized pursuant to Resolve 2013, chapter 107, submitted its final report to the 127th Legislature; among many other recommendations of the task force is a requirement that the Department of Education convene a working group by March 1, 2015 to review the opportunities and challenges of the Community Eligibility Provision in the United States Department of Agriculture, study best practices related to the Community Eligibility Provision for school administrative units, address barriers to the use of the Community Eligibility Provision and make recommendations to the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services. The working group is required to complete and submit its report by April 30, 2015.

This resolve, an emergency measure, includes only that provision of the task force's recommendations regarding the formation of a working group to allow the working group to be convened and finish its work by the April 30, 2015 deadline.