ENDING CHILDHOOD HUNGER BILL MOVES AHEAD AWAITING FUNDING

AUGUSTA–Today, in a near final step to becoming law, a bill aimed at ending childhood hunger was referred to the so-called “special appropriations table,” where it will be considered by the Appropriations Committee for funding.

Sen. Justin Alfond of Portland

“When a child is hungry, they cannot reach their full potential. Their school performance, overall health, and attendance suffer,” said State Senate Democratic Leader Justin Alfond of Portland, the sponsor of the measure.  “Now that we have a blueprint to end student hunger and now we must start doing.”

In Maine, one out of four children, or more than 86,000, are food insecure. These numbers make Maine the most food insecure state in New England. To address this, the 126th Legislature created the Task Force to End Student Hunger.

Last year, the Task Force to End Student Hunger met to develop a five-year plan. This measure contains the legislative recommendations developed by the Task Force to End Student Hunger  including establishing a permanent Commission To End Student Hunger. The bill was amended by the committee to reduce the number of members on the Task Force from 17 to 11.

“This is an ambitious bill, but it is one that meets the scope of our challenge,” said State Senate Democratic Leader Justin Alfond of Portland, the sponsor of the measure. “When parents and communities understand the full scope of hunger in their school, they want action.”

The bill also directs the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services to collaborate on child hunger and nutrition programs in various ways.

The bill,  LD 933, “An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Task Force To End Student Hunger in Maine,” has been placed on the Special Appropriations Table to await funding by the state’s budget writing committee