An Act To Move Administration of the Child and Adult Care Food Program from the Department of Health and Human Services to the Department of Education

Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §6601-A  is enacted to read:

§ 6601-A.  Child and Adult Care Food Program

Notwithstanding any other law, the Department of Education shall administer the Child and Adult Care Food Program pursuant to 7 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 226.3.

Sec. 2. Child and Adult Care Food Program transition. The Department of Education shall enter into a written agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service to administer the Child and Adult Care Food Program pursuant to 7 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 226 and the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 6601-A. The Department of Health and Human Services shall work with the Department of Education to move the administration of the Child and Adult Care Food Program to the Department of Education. The Department of Education shall report to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs during the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature on the transition and include any suggested legislation necessary to accomplish the transition. The Department of Education shall report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural affairs during the First Regular Session of the 129th Legislature regarding its administration of the program and may include suggested legislation. The Department of Education may adopt rules to implement this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

summary

This bill moves the administration of the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program, which provides food assistance to children and adult participants in nonresidential institutions that provide care, from the Department of Health and Human Services to the Department of Education. It directs the Department of Education to enter into a written agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture to administer the program. The Department of Health and Human Services is directed to work with the Department of Education to move the administration of the program. The Department of Education is directed to report to the committee of jurisdiction during the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature and the First Regular Session of the 129th Legislature and is authorized to submit suggested legislation and to adopt routine technical rules.