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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 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
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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 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
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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.