127th MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 933 LR 48(01)
An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Task Force To End Student Hunger in Maine
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement for Original Bill
Sponsor: Sen. Alfond of Cumberland
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement
FY 2015-16 FY 2016-17 Projections  FY 2017-18 Projections  FY 2018-19
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $65,938 $64,064 $66,377 $68,782
Appropriations/Allocations
General Fund $65,938 $64,064 $66,377 $68,782
Other Special Revenue Funds $500 $500 $500 $500
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This preliminary fiscal impact statement assumes that $1,250 per year beginning in fiscal year 2015-16 will need to be appropriated for the per diem costs and other expenses of two members of the Senate and three members of the House of Representatives to participate in up to 4 meetings of the Commission to End Student Hunger during each interim period. It assumes a base allocation will be needed for the Commission to End Student Hunger including the costs of four hunger coordinators.  The location of the Commission and the allocation will need to be clarified. Section A-3 of the bill establishes the allocation in the Legislature, however Section A-1 of the bill establishes the Commission in the Department of Education.
This legislation establishes a new position to increase communication and cooperation between the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services and to monitor child hunger and nutrition programs in both departments.  It also requires the departments to provide school administrative units and schools with analyses of its existing child hunger and nutrition programs and the funding not being used.  This preliminary fiscal impact statement assumes that a Planning & Research Assistant position would be needed to perform these duties and the position would reside within the Department of Education.  The department will require General Fund appropriations of $64,688 in fiscal year 2015-16 and $62,814 in fiscal year 2016-17 to support the personal services and all other costs of the position.
Including the full costs of school nutrition as a subsidizable cost in the Essential Program and Services model will increase the total cost of PreK-12 public education and the state's share of that cost.  The amount will depend on what costs are determined to be "allowable" under the formula.  This determination will need to be provided before this provision can be implemented by the Department of Education.  Also, it is unclear whether there is sufficient time to implement this provision in fiscal year 2014-15 as the language in the original bill requires.
This bill requires the Department of Education to establish a grant program to help end student hunger and to award the initial grants no later than October 1, 2015.  The amount and source of funding will need to be identified before this requirement can be implemented by the Department of Education.
Additional costs to the Department of Education to convene a working group to review the opportunities and challenges of the community eligibility provision can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.  The report back date will need to be changed as the April 30, 2015 date in the original bill has passed.  
Any additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services to adopt the changes in this bill are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.