This bill establishes a universal free school breakfast and lunch program for all public school students in Florida, amending existing statutes to define relevant terms and outline the responsibilities of school districts. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is tasked with creating and operating this program, which will provide eligible breakfast and lunch meals at no cost to students in grades K-12. The bill deletes previous provisions that required school districts to charge for breakfast programs and only encouraged certain districts to implement free breakfast programs. Instead, it mandates that all districts participate in the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs and maximize access to federal funding through the community eligibility provision or other special assistance alternatives.
Additionally, the bill revises the information that school districts must provide to parents regarding the availability of free meals and allows for offsite food preparation locations to facilitate meal distribution. It emphasizes the importance of increasing student participation in the program and requires districts to adopt policies that align with federal law and department rules. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.
Statutes affected: S 74 Filed: 595.402, 595.405, 595.404