130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1679		LR 1396(04)
	An Act To Address Student Hunger through Expanding Access to Free School Meals
	Fiscal Note for Senate Amendment " " to Committee Amendment "A"
	Sponsor: Sen. Breen of Cumberland
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
			FY 2021-22	FY 2022-23	Projections  FY 2023-24	Projections  FY 2024-25
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$0	($34,021,267)	($34,021,267)	($34,021,267)
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$0	($34,021,267)	($34,021,267)	($34,021,267)
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This amendment strikes certain language in the bill and eliminates the ongoing General Fund appropriations of $34,021,267 per year beginning in fiscal year 2022-23.
	This amendment requires the Department of Education to investigate the cost of providing free and reduced priced meals for publicly-funded students at town academies who are otherwise ineligible to receive free and reduced-price meals and report back to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs no later than February 1, 2023. It also requires public schools to accept data submitted through an Internet-based application for free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast program.
	As amended, the additional costs to the Department of Education and to local school administrative units to implement the requirements of this legislation can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.