LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 21, 2011

TO:	Honorable Rick Hardcastle, Chair, House Committee on Agriculture & Livestock
FROM:	John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB643 by Rodriguez, Eddie (Relating to summer nutrition programs provided for by school districts.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would reduce the minimum proportion of students in a school district meeting eligibility requirements for the federal free and reduced price lunch program that triggers the requirement that school districts provide or arrange for a summer nutrition program from 60 percent to 50 percent. The bill would direct the Texas Department of Agriculture and the Texas Education Agency to coordinate on the development of a plan to increase access to summer nutrition programs.

The bill would establish a waiver process under which school districts could apply for exemption from the requirement.

No significant fiscal impact to the state is anticipated.

Local Government Impact

Additional school districts would be required to provide or arrange for summer nutrition programs if they do not apply for or are not granted a waiver. Federal reimbursement is available for each meal served in a summer nutrition program; but the reimbursement would not be estimated to cover the entire cost. The Texas Department of Agriculture cites an average of $39,075 per school district based on expenditures by school districts operating programs in fiscal year 2010.

Source Agencies:

551 Department of Agriculture, 701 Central Education Agency

LBB Staff:

JOB, SZ, JGM, JSc