132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 2064 LR 2904(02)
An Act to Expand Access to Early Childhood Nutrition by Establishing a Grant Program for Public Preschools
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Fiscal Note
FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27 Projections  FY 2027-28 Projections  FY 2028-29
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $0 $866,086 $726,958 $736,006
Appropriations/Allocations
General Fund $0 $866,086 $726,958 $736,006
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This bill requires the Department of Education (department) to create and administer, in consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child and Family Services, a grant program to provide students in off-site public preschool programs with breakfast, lunch, and a snack. The bill includes ongoing General Fund appropriations totaling $866,086  in fiscal year 2026-27 to the Department of Education (department), including $217,430 in Personal Services costs for two Education Specialist II positions to support the grant program, $18,656 in All Other costs for overhead for these two positions, and $480,000 in ongoing grant funding to eligible school administrative units for meal costs, estimated at $1200 per student annually for 400 students. The bill also includes a one-time General Fund appropriation of $150,000 in fiscal year 2026-27 to the department for startup grant funding to eligible school administrative units that require infrastructure improvements in order to provide these meals.

Any additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services to implement the provisions of this bill are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.