1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

.166082.1

SENATE MEMORIAL 7

48

TH

LEGISLATURE

- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -

FIRST SESSION

, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Steve Komadina

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING NEW MEXICO SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO WORK WITH THE

CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT AND THE PUBLIC

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO EXPLORE OFFERING OR EXPANDING SUMMER

FOOD SERVICE PROGRAMS FOR ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.

WHEREAS, New Mexico is ranked first in the nation in food

insecurity and third in hunger; and

WHEREAS, children in low-income communities are eligible

to receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year

through the national school lunch and school breakfast programs

and those programs end when vacation begins; and

WHEREAS, the United States department of agriculture's

summer food service program helps children eighteen years old

and younger to continue to get the nutrition they need to

learn, play and grow throughout the summer months when they are

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

.166082.1

- 2 -

out of school; and

WHEREAS, the organizations that can be approved to serve

summer meals are school food authorities, governmental

entities, private nonprofit organizations, residential camps

and national youth sports programs; and

WHEREAS, meals can be served in apartment complexes, boys'

and girls' clubs, churches, community centers, migrant centers,

parks, playgrounds and school cafeterias; and

WHEREAS, the United States department of agriculture-

funded summer food service program can be administered at a

lower reimbursement rate in school districts as a seamless

summer program through the public education department or

administered by school food authorities, governmental entities,

private nonprofit organizations, residential camps and national

youth sports programs as a traditional summer food service

program at a higher reimbursement rate through the children,

youth and families department; and

WHEREAS, less than fifty New Mexico school districts

administer a summer food service program; and

WHEREAS, only forty percent of children eligible for free

and reduced-price meals during the school year also receive

summer meals;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE

OF NEW MEXICO that the children, youth and families department

and the public education department, in conjunction with the

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

.166082.1

New Mexico task force to end hunger, be requested to prepare a

survey on the feasibility of a summer food service program in

each eligible school district; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each eligible school district

be requested to complete a feasibility study and present it to

the children, youth and families department, the public

education department and the New Mexico task force to end

hunger no later than September 1, 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the governor request each

school district to prepare a feasibility study on summer food

service programs for students in New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the children, youth and

families department and the public education department present

a report on the study to the governor and to the appropriate

interim legislative committee no later than October 30, 2007;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the governor, the secretary of public education,

the secretary of children, youth and families and the New

Mexico task force to end hunger.

- 3 -