Thank you, Mister Speaker. Mister Speaker, today I rise in support of amendment (2135h).…
Speaker PackardRep. Hall offers floor amendment (2135h) and is recognized to speak to her amendment.
Rep. Muriel Hall (D - Merr 9)Thank you, Mister Speaker. Mister Speaker, today I rise in support of amendment (2135h). The intent of this amendment is simple, to support families who are vulnerable by providing greater access to school meals for their children. Amendment (2135h) accomplishes two goals. It raises the eligibility cap for free school meals to 350% of the federal poverty level and 2) it funds the cost of providing these meals through the existing federal reimbursement program combined with a new state reimbursement program to be financed through the Education Trust Fund. It does not affect adequacy grants. Currently, as part of the federal reimbursement program, families whose annual household income is up to 130% of federal poverty received no cost school meals and families whose annual household income is 130-185% of poverty receive reduced cost meals. With this legislation, the state reimbursement program would cover the cost of meals up to 350% of poverty, not already paid for by the federal government. The 350% eligibility cap, as proposed in this amendment for a family of 4 is about $105,000. To put this into perspective, the median household income in the State of New Hampshire for adults 25-64 is about $108,000. So, this amendment would support those low to middle income families who fall into the bottom 50% of New Hampshire's median household incomes. Years of research have shown that school meals play a critical role in the student's attendance, well being and academic success. A healthy diet can give a child the energy to think, work and play. School meals are as essential to education as buses, books, computers or the Internet, yet kids access to those meals has been curtailed while many families struggle to pay the bills, including dealing with the rising cost of putting food on the table. Over half of New Hampshire's children reportedly live in households with insufficient food. This amendment ensures that our most needy children and adolescents receive at least one nutritious meal per day and is a positive step toward ending childhood hunger in New Hampshire. This vote is our opportunity to commit to assisting Granite State families in reducing food insecurity, which is associated with problems with childhood language development, social interactions, chronic illnesses, mental health disorders and obesity. Our neighboring states of Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts have all passed permanent universal meals legislation. HB 1212, identical to this amendment, passed this body three months ago on a 193 to 175 bipartisan vote. Let's once again vote to assist low to middle income families and to ensure that New Hampshire kids are not hungry, at least not during their school day. It's not only the right thing to do, it's the least we can do. Please join me in pressing the green button so that we can feed the kids. Thank you, Mister Speaker, and I would like to request a division vote.
Rep. Rick Ladd (R - Graf 5)Thank you, Mister Speaker. As a past school teacher in grade 4 for the first 4 years then a school administrator for the remaining, roughly 40 years, I've been in a number of situations, K through 4, K through 8, junior high school, high school and yes, we have kids that come to school that are not fed, but schools take care of that. Right now, they do that. There is no insecurity in regard to that. Schools do step up to the plate. Teachers oftentimes step up to the plate and help. What this bill does, we now provide free reduced meals up to 185% of the median family income and now we want to extend this to 350% of family median income, which is, as previously spoken to, approximately about $105,000 for that family of four. Right now, we get reimbursement from the federal government up to 185%. We do not get any reimbursement beyond that number. So, this taxpayer, the local state taxpayer is going to have to pick up this burden. Roughly 160,000 students in our state, K through 12, using these numbers right here, 60% of that 160,000 kids are going to be receiving this free meal. We are going to have to cough up that money and we haven't spoken about the revenue yet, but the fiscal report from the Department of Education says somewhere between $50 and $75 million, $50 to $75 million. On top of this, we often times speak of local control. We have 38 schools in this state which do not involve themselves with the lunch program or the breakfast program. They provide it themselves. Now what they are going to have to do if they are mandated to provide this program, the federal program, they're going to have to beef up their kitchens, they're going to have to hire more personnel. And then again there is a local expense involved for those 38 schools who school boards are making local decisions will do this through a contracted service or they will do it ourselves, but we are not getting involved with the feds. So, in conclusion, I ask you to please vote this amendment down. Thank you.
Speaker PackardRep. Hall has requested a division. This will be a division vote. Members take your seats. Rep. Harrington has requested a roll call. Is that sufficiently seconded? It is sufficiently seconded. This will be a roll call vote. The motion before us is amendment (2135h). This is a roll call vote. The Chair recognizes Rep. Woodcock for a parliamentary inquiry.
Rep. Stephen Woodcock (D - Carr 1)Thank you, Mister Speaker. Colleagues, if I know that the information I just heard from the Chairman of the Education Committee is inaccurate today as it was when HB 1212 came before. And if I know because the analytics show us that Maine and Vermont provide universal meals for $34 million, not the $50 to $75 for one meal that we just heard quoted. It was wrong then and it's wrong now. Not his numbers, DOE numbers. He is correct. Every single school in this state. Everyone of your schools where you support and you represent is in debt today on nonfunded meals from youngsters who have nothing when they get there and the school district is picking up some as they can, if they happen to be able to identify a youngster. What that means is a lot of other kids there, a lot of students are not being fed. Now, let me just imagine this. Everyone of you I presume today, If I know everyone here today.
Rep. Stephen Woodcock (D - Carr 1)Thank you. If I know that most everyone here today had the opportunity to have breakfast and probably could afford breakfast. And I know that everyone here today has the opportunity to have a free meal, as you did last time HB 1212 came up, but youngsters who are getting up in the morning at 6:00 a.m., going to school without breakfast, getting on a bus at 7:00, getting there at 7:30 and not having a meal, do not have that opportunity. And if I know that this process will allow them to do that. In conclusion, if I know that we came here for one purpose, which is to make New Hampshire better, academics, sound education make New Hampshire better, then would you please press the green button so we can get on with the business of my good friend Art Ellison, who would say just feed the damn kids? Thank you.
Speaker PackardThe Chair recognizes Rep. Ladd for a parliamentary inquiry.
Rep. Rick Ladd (R - Graf 5)Thank you, Mister Speaker. If I know this bill requires the eligibility threshold for federal school meal programs, raises the level from 185% of the median family income to 350% of the poverty level would require state taxpayer funds to cover the difference as no federal reimbursement is provided. If I know the department's fiscal analysis, the department's fiscal analysis on the bill estimates the total cost of this program could be more than $50 million per year to provide a lunch for 60% of the 160,000 students in New Hampshire's public schools. And lastly, if I know not all schools currently participate in the national school lunch program or breakfast program and this bill does not require that they participate, however, if passed, the state would be required to pay the cost of the meals for all students that qualify, even the current 38 schools that do not participate in the school lunch or breakfast programs, would I then press the red button? Thank you.
Speaker PackardThe motion before us is floor amendment (2135h). This is a roll call vote. If you are in favor, you'll press the green button. If you are opposed, you'll press the red button. Voting stations are open for 30 seconds. Have all members present had the opportunity to vote? The House will attend to the state of the vote. 177 voting Yea; 185 voting Nay, the motion fails. For what reason does the member rise?
Rep. David Luneau (D - Merr 9)Mister Speaker, I would like to request the last debate be printed in the permanent record.
Speaker PackardThe motion before us now is Ought to Pass on SB 396. Are you ready for the question? All those in favor, say Aye; those opposed, Nay, the Ayes have it and the committee report is adopted.