Resolve, To Establish a Working Group To Aid with the End of Student Hunger
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0380
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: ALFOND, McCLELLAN, GRATWICK, JOHNSON, LANGLEY, LIBBY, MILLETT, MIRAMANT

Legislative Document 
No. 380 
S.P. 148 
In Senate, February 12, 2015 
Resolve, To Establish a Working Group To Aid with the End of 
Student Hunger 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator ALFOND of Cumberland. 
Cosponsored by Representative McCLELLAN of Raymond and 
Senators: GRATWICK of Penobscot, JOHNSON of Lincoln, LANGLEY of Hancock, LIBBY 
of Androscoggin, MILLETT of Cumberland, MIRAMANT of Knox. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, Maine ranks first in New England in food insecurity; and 
Whereas, Maine has failed to use up to $30,000,000 per year of federal funding for 
student meals; and 
Whereas, the Task Force To End Student Hunger in Maine has compiled a 5-year 
plan to end student hunger, including the convening of a working group to review the 
options available under state and federal law and address any barriers to ending student 
hunger; and 
Whereas, in order to ensure that the working group has adequate time to prepare its 
report, it is critical that the working group be convened by March 1, 2015; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, be it 
Sec. 1.  Community Eligibility Provision working group.  Resolved:  That, 
by March 1, 2015, the Department of Education shall convene a working group to review 
the opportunities and challenges of the Community Eligibility Provision in the United 
States Department of Agriculture, study best practices related to the Community 
Eligibility Provision for school administrative units, address barriers to the use of the 
Community Eligibility Provision and make recommendations to the Department of 
Education and the Department of Health and Human Services.  The Department of 
Education shall, on behalf of the working group, issue a report to the Legislature and the 
Governor by April 30, 2015.  In the report, the working group shall specifically review 
options for reconciling the differing requirements for the use of the Community 
Eligibility Provision and for reimbursement under Title I of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act, Public Law 89-10 and for essential programs and services 
funding and shall recommend any needed legislation, rule changes or alternative solutions 
to address these issues. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
The Task Force To End Student Hunger in Maine, as authorized pursuant to Resolve 
2013, chapter 107, submitted its final report to the 127th Legislature; among many other 
recommendations of the task force is a requirement that the Department of Education 
convene a working group by March 1, 2015 to review the opportunities and challenges of 
the Community Eligibility Provision in the United States Department of Agriculture, 
study best practices related to the Community Eligibility Provision for school 
administrative units, address barriers to the use of the Community Eligibility Provision 
and make recommendations to the Department of Education and the Department of 
Health and Human Services.  The working group is required to complete and submit its 
report by April 30, 2015. 
This resolve, an emergency measure, includes only that provision of the task force's 
recommendations regarding the formation of a working group to allow the working group 
to be convened and finish its work by the April 30, 2015 deadline.