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- The Senate Education Committee held off on acting on a $160.4 million proposal for universal free school lunches and breakfasts.
- Sen. Luz Escamilla, the measure's sponsor, hopes to revisit the proposal during the summer interim session.
- Another measure, though, HB100, could help address the food needs of eligible students during the summer months.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Senate Education Committee held off on acting on a proposal Thursday that would allocate funds to provide free universal breakfasts and lunches to students in Utah schools.
Sen. Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, the sponsor of SB173, holds out hope the topic will get attention during the summer interim session. As is, the measure comes with a hefty price tag, $160.4 million a year, which seemed to be a sticking point for some.
"It may take me years, but we're going to get there," Escamilla said after exiting Thursday's meeting.
At the same time, another measure is in the works, HB100, that calls for participation by Utah in a federal program that would bolster summer funding for food for students in need. The aim of the bill — mentioned in passing during Thursday's hearing — is "to make sure families don't slip into food insecurity over the summer months," Rep. Tyler Clancy, R-Provo, the measure's sponsor, told KSL.com later Thursday.
Seemingly aware SB173 faced an uphill battle, Escamilla said she planned to give the notion of bolstering funding for school lunches and breakfasts increased attention in the summer. Still, she said it's an important issue.
When children are hungry, "it really creates a barrier and impacts our students' academic performance and well-being," she said. "We know that hunger affects their cognitive functions like concentration, memory and problem-solving."
As is, Utah currently gets $332 million in federal funds to provide free and reduced-price lunches and breakfasts to students in need, though not all kids. The state pitches in another $50 million or so, Escamilla said. More funds, she argued, would be a means of investing in the economy, similar to providing financial incentives to private companies. "I think we should be investing in our children, (who) will be the next workforce for these companies to succeed," she said.
Among other questions, Sen. David Hinkins, R-Ferron, wondered what would happen if the feds pulled funding coming to Utah for school meals. Would the state have to make up the difference? President Donald Trump has made reducing federal spending a priority and has broached the idea of eliminating the U.S. Department of Education altogether.
As for HB100, Clancy said it could get a hearing from the House Education Committee as soon as next week.
The measure calls for participation by Utah in a federal program, the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children Project, which would enable Utah to tap into up to $31.8 million in federal funds for food for eligible children. According to the fiscal note for the proposal, the Utah Board of Education would pitch in another $5.1 million a year. and $619,000 more per year would come from the general fund.
"It gives (eligible students') parents a small amount of money per month to cover what they would have received if their children were in school," Clancy said. The funds would be added to the parents' EBT cards, used to access certain food benefits like food stamps.
Gov. Spencer Cox has prioritized funding for the initiative for the past two years, according to Clancy.
