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Assemblymember Julia Brownley has introduced AB 839, “Pupil Nutrition: Federal School Breakfast Program Participation,” sponsored by the Junior Leagues of California State Public Affairs Committee and the California Food Policy Advocates.  Following is a summary of the bill:

Existing law requires each school district or county superintendent of schools maintaining any kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, to provide for each needy pupil one nutritionally adequate free or reduced-price meal during each school day. Existing law states the intent of the Legislature that the Federal School Breakfast Program be made available in all schools where it is needed to provide adequate nutrition for children in attendance. Existing law requires the State Department of Education to, in cooperation with school districts and county superintendents of schools, provide information and limited financial assistance to encourage school breakfast program startup and expansion into all qualified schools. Existing law encourages school districts and charter schools that do not operate school breakfast programs to apply for funding to establish breakfast programs using funds appropriated for this purpose in the annual Budget Act.

This bill would state findings and declarations regarding the importance of breakfast to the achievement of pupils. This bill would require school districts to undertake specific actions to increase access to the federal School Breakfast Program. The bill would require school districts to submit a report to the State Department of Education on each noncharter, public school site within the district that did not operate a federal School Breakfast Program in the previous school year,  hear and discuss the report at two school district board meetings, and adopt a resolution for submission to the department that indicates which school sites will continue not to operate the program and articulates the reason for continued nonoperation, and which school sites will begin to operate the program and provides a timeline for implementation of the program.

The bill would also require school districts to undertake specified actions to increase participation in the federal School Breakfast Program at sites where a breakfast program already exists. The bill would require school districts to identify noncharter, public school sites within the district that operate a federal School Breakfast Program but experience low participation, as defined, submit a report to the department regarding enrollment and participation in the program, and considering options concerning its operation, hear and discuss the report at 2 school district board meetings, and adopt a resolution for submission to the department that indicates which school sites will continue to operate the program without changes, and which school sites will continue to operate the program with changes, and provides a timeline for implementing those changes. 

Because this bill would require school districts to perform additional duties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state.  Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. 

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.

For the complete bill text, please click on the following link: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0801-0850/ab_839_bill_20110217_introduced.pdf  For more about the importance of ensuring all students have access to school breakfast, please see the breakfastfirst.org website: http://www.breakfastfirst.org/