BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
Article - Education

Section 1-101(d) and (f) and 7-701 through 7-703
Annotated Code of Maryland

(1997 Replacement Volume and 1998 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article - Education
Section 7-704

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1997 Replacement Volume and 1998 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article—Tax—General

Section 10-712

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1997 Replacement Volume and 1998 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, During the last 5 years in the public schools the number of
students eligible to receive free and reduced price meals has increased by 25%, while
student enrollment has increased by only 11%; and

WHEREAS, Research indicates that most children either do not eat breakfast
or do not eat an adequately nutritious breakfast; and

WHEREAS, Studies by the Harvard University Medical School, the Abell
Foundation, and the University of Minnesota - Minnesota Department of Children,
Families, and Learning show that when an in-classroom breakfast program is
available to ail children in a school, there is more time for instruction as there is:

1. A 50% decrease in disciplinary incidents;

2. A 75% decrease in tardiness; and

3. A 30% decrease in visits to the school nurse; and

WHEREAS, The Minnesota study also revealed that students who
participated in a breakfast program had increased percentile scores on standardized
tests in mathematics and reading; and

WHEREAS, It also has been shown that when all students, regardless of
economic status, are eligible to participate in a school breakfast program, there is an
increase in participation in the program, and that participation results in an
improved learning environment for all children; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: