Securing and Keeping State Funding

1. Securing and Keeping State Funding 2007 State Agency Conference Nashville, TN

2. STATE FUNDING IN COLORADOHOW IT STARTED …. • Began with a vision and a person with a passion for the legislative process • First step was to form a Legislative Committee within the Colorado School Nutrition Association

3. HOW IT STARTED … next steps • Secure a Lobbyist (must not have conflict of interest with other lobbying activities) • Develop a Plan • Find a “champion” – a legislator that has an interest in your issue (and is good for kids)

4. STATE AGENCY ROLE • Provide assistance • Fiscal note calculations • Data requests • Accompany members when meeting with critical parties (advisory only) • Assist in writing the bill language

5. STATE AGENCY ROLE (cont) • Provide accurate information • Support the state association • Do not lobby – provide information only when requested

6. FINALE • Remember to thank the members who championed your cause • Provide a special recognition to the members (role of association) • Follow-up with letters of thanks (role of association)

7. FINALE cont. • Diligence: If money is appropriated, important to make sure that the money appears in the budget; if there is a sunset clause know when the initiative ends. • DO NOT GIVE UP! It is important to build relationships and let them know who you are. Depending on the initiative, timing is everything!

8. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY • 2001 State Match for the National School Lunch Program Federal regulation requires that states must comply with the matching funds requirements (a.k.a. maintenance of effort (MOE)) to receive the federal funds through the National School Lunch Program or risk losing (approximately $11 million) federal funds. Colorado must match $2,472,644, which is the amount of funds received by the state under section 4 of the National School Lunch Act during the school year beginning July 1, 1980. The state matching funds are allocated by the Nutrition Unit to the participating school districts. The districts are allowed to use the funds to supplement (but not supplant) local funds on the program. [S.B. 01-129 – Section 22-54-123, C.R.S.]

9. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY 2002 / 2003 School Breakfast Program H.B. 02-1349 $150,000, as amended by S.B. 03-183, appropriates $350,000 worth of funds to assist school districts and Institute charter schools that participate in the federal School Breakfast Program. The department is required to allocate state funds among participating school districts with low-performing schools, with the goal of improving the academic performance of the students attending such schools. The school districts may use these funds to create, expand, or enhance the school breakfast program. [H.B. 02-1349, as amended by S.B. 03-183 – Section 22-54-123.5 C.R.S.]

10. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY 2004 Healthful alternatives – school vending machines - requirements Nutritious School Vending – Step-by-Step Guide to Implementing Colorado Senate Bill 04-103 It is the intent of the general assembly that school districts work with contractors to increase over time the nutritional value of foods offered to students in school vending machines and to phase in higher nutritional standards as vendor contracts are renewed. Each school district board of education is encouragedto adopt a policy by resolution providing that, by the 2006-07 school year, at least fifty percent of all items offered in each vending machine or adjoining set of vending machines located in each school of the school district shall meet the criteria set forth. [S.B. 04-103 – Section 22-32-134 C.R.S.]

11. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY 2005 Children’s nutrition – healthful alternatives – information – facilities – local wellness policy – competitive foods Local School Wellness Policy – A Step-by-Step Guide to Implementing P.L. 108-265, Section 204 Senate Bill 05-81 addresses Colorado’s growing problem of childhood overweight and obesity by giving local control to all Colorado school districts to design, implement, and adhere to their own nutrition integrity policy. SB05-081 encouragesschool districts to adopt policies that ensure that every student has access to: Healthful food choices in appropriate portion sizes; healthful meals in the cafeteria with adequate time to eat; healthful items for fundraisers, classroom parties and rewards in school; fresh produce from our own Colorado farms, when practical; access to an adequate amount of drinking water throughout the day; access to age-appropriate physical activity; and access to age-appropriate and culturally sensitive instructiondesigned to teach lifelong healthy eating habits and a healthy level of physical activity. [S.B. 05-81 – Section 22-32-136 C.R.S.]

12. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY 2006 Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Pilot The Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Pilot provides all children in participating schools with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the school day at no charge. A certain percentage of schools chosen to participate in the program must be schools that are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch under the “National School Lunch Act.” The Nutrition Unit sets the requirements with regard to the application process for schools that wish to participate in the program. Participants are required to use Colorado produce in the program to the maximum extent practicable. The legislation requires the Department of Education to use a portion of the funds ($150,000) that may be appropriated for school breakfast programs to implement the program. [S.B. 06-127 Created in Section 2-82.5-101 C.R.S.]

13. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY 2007 Start Smart Nutrition Program This legislation creates the Start Smart Nutrition Program and Fund to eliminate the reduced price paid by children who are eligible for reduced price breakfasts under the federal "National School Lunch Act.” Under federal law three categories of payment exist for participation under the program: paid, reduced and free. Families pay the full meal price under paid, families pay $.30 for reduced, and there is no charge for free.This legislation eliminates the $.30 cost familiespay in the reduced category for participation in the School Breakfast Program and thecollection of the $.30 for the breakfast meal payment fromthe child by the districts, making the meal free.[S.B. 07-059 – Section 22-82.7-101 C.R.S.]

14. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY The FY06-07 Nutrition Unit appropriation was $2,972,644. Of this amount $2,472,644 is the State Match for the National School Lunch Program, and $500,000 is for the School Breakfast Program. Of the $500,000 for the School Breakfast Program, $350,000 is allocated for the School Breakfast Program– low-performing schools, and $150,000 is allocated for the Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Pilot Program created in Section 2-82.5-101. All funds are flow-through distribution funds to the appropriate sponsors.

15. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY The FY07-08 Nutrition Unit appropriation is$3,672,644. Of this amount $2,472,644 is the State Match for the National School Lunch Program, and $500,000 is for the School Breakfast Program. Of the $500,000 for the School Breakfast Program, $350,000 is allocated for the School BreakfastProgram – low-performing schools, and $150,000is allocated for the Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Pilot Program created in Section 2-82.5-101. $700,000 is for the Start Smart Nutrition Program (S.B. 07-059). All funds are flow-through distribution funds to the appropriate sponsors.