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February 5, 2024 HB 24-1206
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
Fiscal Note
Drafting Number:
Prime Sponsors:
LLS 24-0987
Rep. Bird; Sirota
Sen. Kirkmeyer; Zenzinger
Date:
Bill Status:
Fiscal Analyst:
February 5, 2024
House Appropriations
Anna Gerstle | 303-866-4375
anna.gerstle@coleg.gov
Bill Topic: SCHOOL FOOD AUTHORITIES
Summary of
Fiscal Impact:
☐ State Revenue
☒ State Expenditure
☐ State Transfer
☐ TABOR Refund
☐ Local Government
☐ Statutory Public Entity
The bill specifies that facility schools, residential child care facilities, and the Colorado
School for the Deaf and Blind are school food authorities, making them eligible for
state nutrition programs. The bill increases state expenditures on an ongoing basis.
Appropriation
Summary:
For FY 2023-24, the bill requires an appropriation of $17,752 to the Colorado
Department of Education.
For FY 2024-25, the bill requires an appropriation of up to $483,812 to the Colorado
Department of Education. See State Appropriations section.
Fiscal Note
Status:
The fiscal note reflects the introduced bill, which is recommended by the Joint Budget
Committee as part of its supplemental budget package.
Table 1
State Fiscal Impacts Under HB 24-1206
Current Year
FY 2023-24
Budget Year
FY 2024-25
Out Year
FY 2025-26
Revenue - -
Expenditures General Fund Exempt Account $17,752 up to $483,812 up to $483,812
Transfers - -
Other Budget Impacts General Fund Reserve $2,663 up to $72,572 up to $72,572
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February 5, 2024 HB 24-1206
Summary of Legislation
The bill adds facility schools, residential child care facilities, and the Colorado School for the
Deaf and Blind to the list of school food authorities, making them eligible for state nutrition
programs, including the Healthy Schools Meals for All program. These schools are currently
treated as such by the federal school meal programs.
Background
The Healthy Schools Meals for All program provides free meals for public school students who
are enrolled in a participating school district, charter school, or other entity that serves as a
school food authority. Beginning in FY 2024-25, it also provides employee wage and local food
purchasing grants.
State Expenditures
The bill increases state expenditures by $17,752 in the current FY 2023-24, and up to about
$485,000 beginning in FY 2024-25. Program cost are paid from the Healthy School Meals for All
Program General Fund Exempt Account.
In FY 2023-24, CDE requires $17,752 to cover free meals for the rest of the year for students
enrolled in schools that currently operate as a federal school food authority and are expected to
begin participating in Healthy Schools Meals for All Program in the current school year.
In FY 2024-25, costs will increase to cover free meals for students and include the additional
schools in the grant programs being implemented under current law. These costs depend on the
number of schools that choose to participate in the program, ranging from $259,812 if only
school food authorities current participating in federal programs begin participating in the
Healthy Schools Meals for All program, to $483,812 if all eligible schools participate. The fiscal
note assumes the high end of the costs with all schools participating; however, the actual
appropriations amount will be determined through the annual budget process.
Table 2
Expenditures Under HB 24-1206
FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25 FY 2025-26
Department of Education
Healthy School Meals for All $17,752 up to $483,812 up to $483,812
Other Budget Impacts
General Fund reserve. Under current law, an amount equal to 15 percent of General Fund
appropriations must be set aside in the General Fund statutory reserve. Based on this fiscal note,
the bill is expected to increase the amount of General Fund held in reserve by the amounts
shown in Table 1, decreasing the amount of General Fund available for other purposes. Page 3
February 5, 2024 HB 24-1206
Effective Date
The bill takes effect upon signature of the Governor, or upon becoming law without his
signature.
State Appropriations
For the current FY 2023-24, the bill requires an appropriation of $17,752 from the Healthy
School Meals General Fund Exempt Account to the Colorado Department of Education.
For FY 2024-25, the bill requires an appropriation of up to $483,812 from the Healthy School
Meals General Fund Exempt Account to the Colorado Department of Education. The fiscal note
assumes that this appropriation will occur through the Long Bill; however, it may be provided in
either the Long Bill or via this bill.
State and Local Government Contacts
Education Joint Budget Committee Staff
The revenue and expenditure impacts in this fiscal note represent changes from current law under the bill for each
fiscal year. For additional information about fiscal notes, please visit the General Assembly website.