Securing and Keeping State Securing and Keeping State FundingFunding

2007 State Agency 2007 State Agency ConferenceConference

Nashville, TNNashville, TN

STATE FUNDING IN COLORADOSTATE FUNDING IN COLORADOHOW IT STARTED ….HOW IT STARTED ….

Began with a vision and a person Began with a vision and a person with a passion for the legislative with a passion for the legislative processprocess

First step was to form a Legislative First step was to form a Legislative Committee within the Colorado Committee within the Colorado School Nutrition AssociationSchool Nutrition Association

HOW IT STARTED … next HOW IT STARTED … next stepssteps

Secure a Lobbyist Secure a Lobbyist (must not have conflict of interest with other lobbying (must not have conflict of interest with other lobbying

activities)activities)

Develop a PlanDevelop a Plan

Find a “champion” – a legislator that Find a “champion” – a legislator that has an interest in your issue has an interest in your issue (and is (and is good for kids)good for kids)

STATE AGENCY ROLESTATE AGENCY ROLE

Provide assistanceProvide assistance Fiscal note calculationsFiscal note calculations Data requestsData requests Accompany members when meeting Accompany members when meeting

with critical parties with critical parties (advisory only)(advisory only) Assist in writing the bill languageAssist in writing the bill language

STATE AGENCY ROLE (cont)STATE AGENCY ROLE (cont)

Provide accurate informationProvide accurate information Support the state associationSupport the state association Do not lobby – provide information Do not lobby – provide information

only when requestedonly when requested

FINALEFINALE

Remember to thank the members Remember to thank the members who championed your causewho championed your cause

Provide a special recognition to the Provide a special recognition to the members members (role of association)(role of association)

Follow-up with letters of thanks Follow-up with letters of thanks (role of (role of association)association)

FINALE FINALE cont.cont.

Diligence: If money is appropriated, Diligence: If money is appropriated, important to make sure that the money important to make sure that the money appears in the budget; if there is a sunset appears in the budget; if there is a sunset clause know when the initiative ends.clause know when the initiative ends.

DO NOT GIVE UP! DO NOT GIVE UP! It is important to build relationships and It is important to build relationships and let them know who you are.let them know who you are.Depending on the initiative, timing is Depending on the initiative, timing is everything!everything!

LEGISLATIVE HISTORYLEGISLATIVE HISTORY

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

LEGISLATIVE HISTORYLEGISLATIVE HISTORY

2002 / 20032002 / 2003 School Breakfast ProgramSchool Breakfast Program

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

LEGISLATIVE HISTORYLEGISLATIVE HISTORY

2004 Healthful alternatives – school vending 2004 Healthful alternatives – school vending machines - requirementsmachines - requirementsNutritious School Vending – Step-by-Step Guide to Nutritious School Vending – Step-by-Step Guide to Implementing Colorado Senate Bill 04-103Implementing Colorado Senate Bill 04-103

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

LEGISLATIVE HISTORYLEGISLATIVE HISTORY2005 Children’s nutrition2005 Children’s nutrition – healthful alternatives – – healthful alternatives – information – facilities – local wellness policy – competitive information – facilities – local wellness policy – competitive foodsfoods

Local School Wellness Policy – A Step-by-Step Local School Wellness Policy – A Step-by-Step Guide to Implementing P.L. 108-265, Section 204Guide to Implementing P.L. 108-265, Section 204

Senate Bill 05-81 addresses Colorado’s growing problem of childhood Senate Bill 05-81 addresses Colorado’s growing problem of childhood overweight and obesity by giving overweight and obesity by giving local control to all Colorado school local control to all Colorado school districtsdistricts to design, implement, and adhere to their own nutrition integrity to design, implement, and adhere to their own nutrition integrity policy. SB05-081 policy. SB05-081 encouragesencourages school districts to adopt policies that ensure school districts to adopt policies that ensure that every student has access to: Healthful food choices in appropriate that every student has access to: Healthful food choices in appropriate portion sizes; healthful meals in the cafeteria with adequate time to eat; portion sizes; healthful meals in the cafeteria with adequate time to eat; healthful items for fundraisers, classroom parties and rewards in school; healthful items for fundraisers, classroom parties and rewards in school; fresh produce from our own Colorado farms, when practical; fresh produce from our own Colorado farms, when practical; access to an access to an adequate amount of drinking water throughout the day; access to age-adequate amount of drinking water throughout the day; access to age-appropriate physical activity; and access to age-appropriate and culturally appropriate physical activity; and access to age-appropriate and culturally sensitive instructionsensitive instruction designed to teach lifelong healthy eating habits and a designed to teach lifelong healthy eating habits and a healthy level of physical activityhealthy level of physical activity.. [S.B. 05-81 – Section 22-32-136 [S.B. 05-81 – Section 22-32-136 C.R.S.]C.R.S.]

LEGISLATIVE HISTORYLEGISLATIVE HISTORY

20062006Fresh Fruits and Vegetable PilotFresh Fruits and Vegetable Pilot

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

LEGISLATIVE HISTORYLEGISLATIVE HISTORY

20072007Start Smart Nutrition ProgramStart Smart Nutrition Program

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

LEGISLATIVE HISTORYLEGISLATIVE HISTORY

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

LEGISLATIVE HISTORYLEGISLATIVE HISTORY

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