The bill proposes the establishment of a universal free school breakfast and lunch program for all public school students in Florida, amending existing statutes to reflect this initiative. It requires the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to implement the program, contingent upon legislative funding. The bill specifies that school districts must provide eligible breakfast and lunch meals at no cost to all students in grades K-12, and it deletes previous provisions that mandated school districts to charge for breakfast programs or limited the universal program to certain districts. Additionally, the bill revises the information that school districts must communicate to parents regarding the availability of free meals and allows for offsite food preparation locations to facilitate meal distribution.

Key definitions are added to clarify terms such as "community eligibility provision," "eligible breakfast and lunch meals," and "universal school breakfast and lunch program." The bill also emphasizes maximizing federal funding through participation in federal programs and outlines requirements for school districts to enhance student participation in the meal program. The effective date for the implementation of this act is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 119 Filed: 595.402, 595.405, 595.404