§6663. Commission To End Student Hunger

The Commission To End Student Hunger, as established in Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 12-B and referred to in this section as "the commission," is established within the department as set forth in this section.   [PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. CCC, §2 (NEW).]

1.  Commission membership.  The commission consists of 11 members as follows:

A. One member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, from the party holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature;   [PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. CCC, §2 (NEW).]

B. One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House, from a party other than the party holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature;   [PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. CCC, §2 (NEW).]

C. Three public members appointed by the President of the Senate, chosen from 3 of the following options:

(1) One member from a statewide organization dedicated to food security;

(2) One member from a statewide or regional organization dedicated to alleviating child hunger;

(3) One member from a statewide or regional organization that runs a food pantry; and

(4) One member who is a food service director in a municipality or school administrative unit that uses the United States Department of Agriculture community eligibility provision, as provided in 42 United States Code, Section 1759a(a)(1)(F);   [PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. CCC, §2 (NEW).]

D. Three public members appointed by the Speaker of the House, chosen from 3 of the following options:

(1) One member from a statewide or regional farm organization;

(2) One member from a statewide or regional organization that runs a school food program for students in at-risk areas;

(3) One member who is a superintendent of a school administrative unit; and

(4) One member who is an elected official in a municipality that participates in the United States Department of Agriculture community eligibility provision, as provided in 42 United States Code, Section 1759a(a)(1)(F);   [PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. CCC, §2 (NEW).]

E. One public member appointed by the Governor who is a parent of a child who has used or is using free or reduced-price student meal programs;   [PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. CCC, §2 (NEW).]

F. The commissioner or the commissioner's designee; and   [PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. CCC, §2 (NEW).]

G. The Commissioner of Health and Human Services or the commissioner's designee.   [PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. CCC, §2 (NEW).]

[PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. CCC, §2 (NEW).]

2.  Chairs.  For the first 2 years of the commission, the Senate member is the Senate chair and the House of Representatives member is the House chair. In subsequent years, the chair of the commission must be elected by the members of the commission at the first meeting of each year.

[PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. CCC, §2 (NEW).]

3.  Appointments; vacancies; quorum.  A nonlegislative member of the commission must be appointed for a 2-year term. A member may continue to serve until the member's replacement is appointed. When a vacancy exists, the appointing authority shall appoint a new member from the same category as the member vacating the commission. A quorum consists of 6 members.

[PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. CCC, §2 (NEW).]

4.  Duties; funding.  The commission shall meet at least 2 and no more than 4 times per year. The commission shall work to implement the 5-year plan to end student hunger developed by the Task Force To End Student Hunger in Maine pursuant to Resolve 2013, chapter 107, shall monitor the plan and shall update it if necessary. In addition, the commission may conduct public meetings throughout the State to highlight the issue of student hunger. Every one or 2 years the commission may conduct a statewide summit of state leaders regarding ending student hunger. The commission shall provide advice regarding the responsibilities of and supervision of the hunger coordinators in their working across the State and performing the following functions within school administrative units and communities:

A. Compile and analyze data to identify opportunities to increase food security and the progress made in decreasing student hunger;   [PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. CCC, §2 (NEW).]

B. Raise awareness of food insecurity and of opportunities and best practices to decrease food insecurity;   [PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. CCC, §2 (NEW).]

C. Assist school board and school food service directors and community leaders in understanding, applying for and complying with the requirements of the child nutrition programs offered by the United States Department of Agriculture and understanding the effect of the programs on students, schools and communities; and   [PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. CCC, §2 (NEW).]

D. Report by November 15th each year to the commission on food insecurity in communities and school administrative units and the progress made in decreasing student hunger.   [PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. CCC, §2 (NEW).]

[PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. CCC, §2 (NEW).]

5.  Staff assistance.  The department shall provide necessary staffing services to the commission.

[PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. CCC, §2 (NEW).]

6.  Report; legislation.  By January 10th each year, the commission shall submit to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters a report that includes findings and recommendations for action to eliminate student hunger. The commission is authorized to submit to the Legislature legislation as the commission may determine to be appropriate.

[PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. CCC, §2 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. CCC, §2 (NEW).