Bill Text: HI HR74 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Department of Education; School Food Services Branch

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-04-02 - Report adopted. referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Carroll excused (1). [HR74 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2013-HR74-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	74
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the department of education to undertake a SYSTEMWIDE review of ITS oversight, monitoring, AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF the operational and fiscal practices of the department's school food services branch.

 

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Education School Food Services Branch assists 256 schools with feeding approximately 100,000 students and staff daily; and

 

     WHEREAS, during 2012, the Department of Education conducted an internal audit of its School Food Services Branch to assess and evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of the Department's internal controls over the food service processes and provide efficiency and effectiveness recommendations; and

 

     WHEREAS, the internal audit specifically focused on the processes relating to school level purchases, school level collections, and staffing recommendations relating to school food services; and

 

     WHEREAS, the internal audit found that the Department of Education's controls related to the school food services are functioning at an unacceptable level, indicating that significant deficiencies exist which could lead to material financial loss to the Department of Education; and

 

     WHEREAS, the internal audit specifically found that:

 

     (1)  Ownership of the food purchasing and meal payment collection processes is unclear;

 

     (2)  There is a lack of oversight, monitoring, and accountability of purchases;

 

     (3)  There are insufficient controls in the monetary collection process;

 

     (4)  There is a lack of current and comprehensive food purchasing policies and procedures;

 

     (5)  There is a lack of technology use in menu planning, ordering, and inventory;

 

     (6)  Required forms and supporting documents are not always completed and/or retained, and procedures are not always followed; and

 

     (7)  The method of staffing school kitchens is not clearly defined and is prone to manipulation; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Education acknowledges that the operation and management of its School Food Services Branch need improvement in the areas outlined as part of the internal audit; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2013, that the Department of Education is requested to undertake a systemwide review of its oversight, monitoring, and accountability of the operational and fiscal practices of the Department's School Food Services Branch; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the School Food Services Branch is requested to ensure that systematic changes to policies and procedures are implemented at all levels to address the concerns raised by the internal audit, and provide an annual report to the Superintendent of Education on the compliance of each school with such policies and procedures; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2014; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor,

Chairperson of the Board of Education, and Superintendent of Education.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Department of Education; School Food Services Branch