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July 1, 2024 HB 24-1206
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
Final Fiscal Note
Drafting Number:
Prime Sponsors:
LLS 24-0987
Rep. Bird; Sirota
Sen. Kirkmeyer; Zenzinger
Date:
Bill Status:
Fiscal Analyst:
July 1, 2024
Signed into Law
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 and includes 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 final fiscal note reflects the enacted bill, which was 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 - - -
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July 1, 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
Effective Date
The bill was signed into law by the Governor and took effect on March 8, 2024.
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July 1, 2024 HB 24-1206
State Appropriations
For the current FY 2023-24, the bill requires and includes 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. No
appropriation is included, as funding to cover these costs is instead included in the FY 2024-25
Long 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.