Community Eligibility Provision Offers Schools Way to Offer Free Meals

This year, the Biden Administration did away with giving everyone free lunches, meaning that schools will charge for lunches unless students have a Free & Reduced application on file with the schools. However, the Community Eligibility Provision offers schools an opportunity to offer kids free lunches without parents having to submit the paperwork to get free or reduced lunches.

The Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 established the Community Eligibility Provision to allow high poverty schools to serve free means to all enrolled students for a period of four consecutive school years. This option is available to all schools participating in both the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.

Instead of household applications, schools can claim percentages based on the number of identified students for reimbursement. Identified students include:

--Students with direct certification as free lunch eligible. This includes students who are on food stamps or TANF;

--Homeless lists;

--Migrant lists;

--Foster lists;

--Runaway lists;

--Head Start lists.

To be eligible, schools must have an Identified Student Percentage of at least 40% to participate in the program. The school must then have approval from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education prior to implementation. Schools must provide the agency with raw data showing how the ISP was derived. Schools pay the difference between federal reimbursement and the cost of providing all meals at no charge.

If the ISP falls below the 40% threshold at the end of the four year cycle, schools will be allowed to continue the CEP for a grace year if it falls within 30-40% as of April 1st. Those that do not meet this threshold will be required to return to regular program administration, including collecting household applications.

Schools must notify the state of their intent to implement CEP by June 30th of each school year to begin CEP for the following school year. 

In order to participate, schools must do the following:

--Submit the April 1st Community Eligibility Provision Site List report by April 15th;

--Submit the ISP raw data supporting documentation to DESE by June 30th prior to the year of implementation;

--Submit the CEP Police Statement Form, ISP Calculation Worksheets, and a completed web application packed to DESE prior to the year of implementation;

--Following approval by DESE, notify households that meals will be served at no charge.

Schools can recalculate the ISP and report it to the state in order to get a higher reimbursement rate.

North Daviess is currently participating in the program. Eligible, but not participating, is Craig. St. Joseph is participating, but their ISP number fell to 39.8% for this year; they are in their grace year. Grundy County is near-eligible at 35%.

Bipartisan agreement on welfare reform bill

By Katie Kreider

Two state senators from opposite parties and different sides of the state announced March 4 that they had come together on legislation that would prohibit the use of electronic welfare cards at certain places, such as casinos and liquor stores.

Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-St. Louis County, announced she decided to work with Sen. Will Kraus, R-Jackson County, on a bill she opposed last session.

Last year Kraus proposed a similar bill that would require photo identification to get food stamps. Chappelle-Nadal argued the bill would hurt her constituents who rely on the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families fund for support.

However, Chappelle-Nadal said she decided to work with Kraus this year after she learned that people were abusing the TANF fund.

"These funds are supposed to be used for families who are in need and for children who are in need," Chappelle-Nadal said. "So when I found out that these cards were being used for casinos and at strip clubs and out of town for possible vacations, I was dismayed."

The bipartisan bill would limit Electronic Benefits Transfer cards from being used for liquor, strip clubs, casinos and other recreational activities.

This bill is similar to a federal law passed in 2013 that would regulate the use of TANF welfare cards at casinos, strip clubs and to buy liquor and tobacco. This legislation takes it one step further by also regulating all recreational activities such as going to the movies or to amusement parks.

No TANF Drug Tests to Date

(MDN News) -- The Missouri Department of Social Services said Wednesday that it has not drug-tested a single person receiving state welfare benefits, more than a year after lawmakers voted to allow the testing of some recipients.

The department's spokeswoman, Rebecca L. Woelfel, said no drug tests have been administered to applicants or recipients of the state's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program because the department is still formulating rules to implement the drug testing law, which Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon signed in July 2011.

"So the drug testing won't begin until it's approved, the rule is approved," Woelfel said at the department's Jefferson City offices.

"So no drug testing at all has happened so far?" Missouri Digital News asked.

"Yeah, it still hasn't taken place," she said. "We're still kind of in the stages. We have to get the rule approved before the drug testing can begin."

Under the 2011 law, the department is to give a urine test to a welfare applicant or recipient if it has "reasonable cause" to believe that person is using illegal drugs. If a person tests positive, the law provides that they are to lose their benefits for three years. A person who tests positive but enters a rehabilitation program could have their benefits restored more quickly.

In June of this year, the department proposed six rules related to law. Those rules were published in the Aug. 1 edition of the Missouri Register, a public record of rules and executive orders put out monthly by the Secretary of State's office.

In September, Missouri Digital News filed a legal request under the state's open records law to obtain records of the number of drug tests purchased and administered by the department and of communication between department Interim Director Brian Kinkade and department staff who would implement the law.
In a Sept. 20 email to MDN, the department's custodian of records, attorney Scotty L. Allen, estimated that it would take the department two to four weeks to provide the requested records.

In a phone conversation on Oct. 10, Allen said he did have some of the records and that he would deliver those documents to MDN and to The Associated Press by Oct. 12.

But Allen never delivered the promised documents to either news outlet. He has not returned repeated phone messages left by Missouri Digital News since Oct. 10.

An MDN reporter went to Allen's Jefferson City office Wednesday, Oct. 17, and waited for more than two hours to see the state attorney in person and get the requested records. Allen did not come to see the reporter and his staff said that he was in meetings throughout the afternoon. Late in the afternoon, Woelfel came to Allen's office to talk to the reporter.

A Moment with Mike for February 2nd, 2011

Another significant piece of legislation was perfected this week. House members gave overwhelming bi-partisan support to a bill that would require our Department of Social Services to implement a drug testing program for welfare recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits when the department has a reasonable suspicion of drug use. HB73 is very similar to a bill passed in the House last year and is gaining momentum. TANF was created to provide needy families with cash assistance while attempting to find future employment as part of the welfare to work concept passed into federal law in 1997. In Missouri, there are approximately 35,000 families or 85,000 people that receive TANF benefits each month.

While TANF is meant to help families in times of need, it is certainly not meant to subsidize illegal or debilitating activity. We want to extend a helping hand to those who are seriously trying to help themselves but we cannot allow taxpayer money to be used to support drug use. Considering the fact that many companies require drug testing before being hired, it makes even more sense that we ensure our TANF recipients are drug free as well.

A major concern that surfaced in the debate was how this law could affect children and other family members. While we believe that stripping benefits from someone who tests positive for illegal drug use is appropriate, we want to ensure that innocent children are not victimized by the poor choices of their parents. This legislation allows for other members of the household to continue receiving TANF benefits through a third party vendor, a provision that will protect children or other dependents.

Also this week, House Speaker Steve Tilley formed two new special committees to address issues that are important to the people of Missouri. The House Special Standing Committee on Renewable Energy will be responsible for addressing legislation involving on-site energy production, conservation issues and the implementation of Proposition C. Prop. C, which was passed by voters in 2008, requires Ameren and other investor owned utilities to start buying at least 2% of their energy portfolio from renewable energy sources this year. By 2021 the percentage rises to 15%. There is currently disagreement on how and from where utilities buy wind and solar power. These issues are extremely significant to Northwest Missouri as negotiations with wind companies continue. The debate about how to produce green energy and promote economic growth while keeping our energy rates down will be of significant interest this session.

The other committee formed is The House Special Standing Committee on Disability Services, which will review bills on a wide range of subjects, from mental illness to developmental disabilities. The committee also will look at the Department of Mental Health’s proposal to expand mental health First Aid in Missouri.

If you have questions, you may reach me at my Capitol number 573-751-9465, at the local district number, 660-582-4014, by email at mike.thomson@house.mo.gov or by mail at Room 401B State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101

Casey Guernsey: Drug Testing for TANF Recipients

This week, our work in the House continued to move quickly as we advanced common-sense legislation to help Missouri’s economy and families. A bill I co-sponsored, House Bill 73 seeks to reform the way Missouri pays out welfare benefits to children and families in need. Sadly, around 60,000 children each month are receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (or TANF) welfare payments. While this program means well, these benefits are distributed to whoever is registered as the child’s parent, and far too often these “parents” spend money meant to feed their child on themselves. Not surprisingly, if one talks with the individuals actually responsible for administering these welfare programs, they will tell you it isn’t difficult to figure out who the drug abusers are.

One ugly example of how these welfare payments are spent is on drugs and alcohol. In bad cases parents are abusing taxpayer good will on a bad habit that is otherwise meant for hungry children, but in the worst instances pregnant “mothers” who receive the benefits are choosing a bad habit over their child. In the data we have from 2010, there averaged around 85,000 individuals on TANF every month. None of these individuals were tested for illegal drugs as a condition of receiving their money. However, most people can’t get a job today without taking a drug test, yet those who would live off of the work of others are not made to take this same test – it is simply ridiculous.

In addition, numbers from (FY 2008) indicate that only 14.9% of Missouri families receiving TANF welfare payments are participating in some form of work. While there’s no way to know if drug-testing is part of this “work” – it probably isn’t. Even if all of these individuals are drug-tested as part of their work, it is still a very small minority that are tested. Simply put, we can do better and we should do better. If we are going to decide to give assistance to needy children and families there must be some accountability to the taxpayers. Opponents criticized this proposal because they said it lacked compassion and was irresponsible. I feel like one of our greatest responsibilities is to taxpayers and not addressing this issue is abusing the compassion of all those Missourians whose hard earned dollars are helping these families get by. Besides, how is enabling drug abusers with welfare money compassionate to these innocent children?

It is time we took a stand and in the Missouri House of Representatives we have taken the first step. Please join me in supporting HB 73 as it moves to the Senate and hopefully lands on the Governor’s desk for approval. As always, feel free to contact me at (573) 751-4285 or Casey.Guernsey@house.mo.gov. I look forward to your thoughts.

A Moment with Mike for January 19th, 2011

The House got off to a quick start this week with multiple bills heard in committees and resolutions debated and passed on the House Floor. The first resolution debated was HR 39, which calls on the Attorney General to file an independent lawsuit or join 20 state attorneys general in their lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the federal health care reform legislation. The resolution passed by an overwhelming majority.

The House also adopted HR 38, which is the Rules of the House of Representatives for the 96^th General Assembly. Some of the key rule changes include reducing paper use by distributing amendments on the House floor electronically, giving additional power to the minority party to appoint members to standing committees of the House, and placing a ban on smoking in the East Gallery of the House Chamber. This resolution passed in an unprecedented, bipartisan, unanimous vote. This gives me hope that in the next few months, the House can come together and work effectively to move Missouri forward.

It is clear that Missouri needs to be more focused on creating jobs first and foremost in order to aid our ailing economy. One of the first bills heard in committee last week was HB 45 which focuses on small business relief. This bill would extend the prohibition on new taxes and fees on small businesses for five years. Additionally, for every new job these small businesses create, this bill would allow them to receive tax incentives. A small business may hesitate to expand or employ more people because the various taxes and fees associated with employment are overwhelming to them. This tax incentive should relieve some of this pressure and reward businesses who invest in new employees. According to the US Census Bureau, there are in excess of 100,000 small businesses in Missouri that employ less than twenty people. If this bill could encourage even a small fraction of these businesses to hire one or more new employees, there is a great potential for job growth statewide.

House Bill 73, a bill that has quickly gained a lot of support, was heard in committee last week. This bill seeks to safeguard Missouri tax dollars by preventing individuals who abuse illegal drugs from receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, welfare checks. In the data we have from 2010, we averaged around 85,000 individuals on TANF every month. None of these individuals are presently tested for illegal drugs as a condition of receiving their money. We are committed to making sure that the money this state collects from the taxpayers is spent wisely, not on illicit drugs.

For the next four months I will attempt to keep you informed on issues, bills and the budget process as they occur.

If you have questions, you may reach me at my Capitol number 573-751-9465, at the local district number, 660-582-4014, by email at mike.thomson@house.mo.gov or by mail at Room 401B State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101

A welfare drug ban advances to Missouri's House

A measure to require drug testing of welfare recipients is one of the first two bills before the Missouri House when it returns on Tuesday (Jan. 18). The measure would require drug testing of either a recipient or an applicant of "Temporary Assistance to Needy Families" (TANF) whom the department suspects of being an illegal drug user. Legislative staff estimates the requirement would cost the state more than $2 million in the first full year of implementation based largely on the estimated costs of conducting the tests. A positive test would result in a one-year ban in TANF benefits. A similar measure cleared the House in 2010 but stalled in the Senate Health Committee.