Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
 1   State of Arkansas                    As Engrossed:       S3/9/23
 2   94th General Assembly                        A Bill
 3   Regular Session, 2023                                                             SENATE BILL 308
 4
 5   By: Senators J. Dismang, C. Tucker
 6   By: Representatives Vaught, McCullough
 7
 8                                     For An Act To Be Entitled
 9                   AN ACT CONCERNING FEDERALLY FUNDED CHILD NUTRITION
10                   PROGRAMS; TO CREATE A MEANS BY WHICH STUDENTS WHO
11                   QUALIFY FOR REDUCED-PRICE MEALS AT SCHOOL RECEIVE
12                   FREE MEALS AT SCHOOL; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
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15                                                 Subtitle
16                           TO CREATE A MEANS BY WHICH STUDENTS WHO
17                           QUALIFY FOR REDUCED-PRICE MEALS AT SCHOOL
18                           RECEIVE FREE MEALS AT SCHOOL.
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21   BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
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23          SECTION 1.        Arkansas Code Title 6, Chapter 18, Subchapter 7, is amended
24   to add an additional section to read as follows:
25          6-18-720.        Free and reduced-price meals.
26          (a)    Federal funds appropriated to the Department of Education for a
27   child nutrition program shall be used to provide school breakfasts and
28   lunches at no cost to each qualifying student.
29          (b)(1)       A public school that serves a school breakfast or a school
30   lunch as part of a child nutrition program shall not charge a qualifying
31   student a reduced-price copayment for a school breakfast or a school lunch.
32                   (2)(A)    If necessary to comply with the requirements of this
33   section, the department shall provide funds that have been disbursed to the
34   department from the federal government for purposes of funding child
35   nutrition programs to each public school that serves a school breakfast or a
36   school lunch as part of a child nutrition program to cover the cost of
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     As Engrossed:           S3/9/23                                                      SB308
 1   eliminating reduced-price copayments as required by subdivision (b)(1) of
 2   this section.
 3                             (B)     If federal funds appropriated to the department for a
 4   child nutrition program are insufficient to provide a school breakfast or a
 5   school lunch at no cost under subdivision (b)(2)(A) of this section, the
 6   department shall use funds appropriated to the Public School Fund Account to
 7   provide a school breakfast or a school lunch not initially covered by federal
 8   funds under subsection (a) of this section.
 9            (c)(1)     Annually by November 15, the Department of Education shall
10   report on and provide to the House Committee on Education and the Senate
11   Committee on Education an overview of each child nutrition program offered in
12   public schools.
13                     (2)    The report required under subdivision (c)(1) of this section
14   shall include without limitation:
15                             (A)     The procedure for applying for free or reduced-price
16   meals in public schools; and
17                             (B)     The number of students who:
18                                     (i)     Apply for free or reduced-price meals;
19                                     (ii)    Are accepted to receive free or reduced-price
20   meals;
21                                     (iii)    Are denied from receiving free or reduced-
22   price meals; and
23                                     (iv)    Automatically qualify for free or reduced-price
24   meals based on federal eligibility requirements.
25            (d)(1)     Arkansas Legislative Audit shall audit the Arkansas Department
26   of Education Child Nutrition Unit by December 15, 2023, and report the audit
27   findings to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on
28   Education.
29                     (2)    The audit required under subdivision (d)(1) of this section
30   shall determine whether each public school's participation in a child
31   nutrition program effectively:
32                             (A)     Serves the intent of the General Assembly to expand
33   students' access to free meals in public schools; and
34                             (B)     Complies with federal and state law and rules.
35            (e)   As used in this section:
36                     (1)    "Child nutrition program" includes the following as
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     As Engrossed:    S3/9/23                                                    SB308
 1   established under the National School Lunch Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1751 et seq., as
 2   it existed on January 1, 2023:
 3                      (A)     The National School Lunch Program; or
 4                      (B)     The School Breakfast Program; and
 5              (2)    "Qualifying student" means a kindergarten through grade
 6   twelve (K-12) student enrolled in a public school who is eligible for receipt
 7   of a reduced-price meal in a child nutrition program.
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 9                                       /s/J. Dismang
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