130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1693		LR 1927(02)
	An Act To Advance Health Equity, Improve the Well-being of All Maine People and Create a Health Trust
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Health and Human Services
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
			FY 2021-22	FY 2022-23	Projections  FY 2023-24	Projections  FY 2024-25
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$0	$1,438,747	$1,447,565	$1,455,366
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$0	$1,438,747	$1,447,565	$1,455,366
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	The bill includes General Fund appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services of $1,438,747 beginning in fiscal year 2022-23 for one position to act as the Obesity Coordinator in the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, evidence-based programming relating to the reduction of unhealthy weight and obesity, district public health improvement plans, one position to act as the Health Equity Coordinator in the Office of Health Equity and to implement data collection and reporting in the Office of Health Equity.
	This bill requires the Department of Education to adopt rules to revise its school nutrition and physical activity standards to increase obesity prevention in public schools. Of the proposed new standards, one requires the department to make all students, regardless of household income, eligible to receive a breakfast and lunch at the public school free of charge, including a student that is in a public school online learning program, contingent upon state funding being available. The total cost of this provision is estimated to be $36.9 million per year. Public Law 2021, chapter 368, Part OOOO set aside $10,000,000 at the end of fiscal year 2020-21 for the cost of this provision to be used only if a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture that allows for the provision of free meals to students during the 2022-2023 school year is not received. LD 1995, the Governor's proposed supplement budget, includes a General Fund appropriation of $26.9 million in fiscal year 2022-23 to fully support the cost of the program. If approved by the Legislature, sufficient funds will be available to implement this program. Local school administrative units will need to develop a process for students in a public school online learning program to receive the free meals.
	According to the Department of Education, there is currently no funding available to provide kitchen equipment grants for upgrades, repairs and maintenance or for developing and providing technical assistance and incentives for public schools to meet nutrition standards that are more stringent than required under current law or rule.