Senate Bill No. by Senator Edmonds seeks to authorize the Central Community School Board to enter into contracts with vendors for the management of the school system's nutrition program. The bill amends R.S. 17:194(B) and enacts R.S. 17:66(H), allowing the school board to contract for various services related to the nutrition program, including training and scheduling cafeteria employees, planning menus, managing budgets, maintaining inventory, and overseeing daily operations of school cafeterias. Additionally, the bill stipulates that any contracts entered into must comply with federal funding requirements as determined by the state Department of Education.

The bill also retains existing prohibitions on the disbursement of state appropriated funds for nutrition programs to private entities, with specific exceptions for certain schools and programs. Notably, it adds an exception for the Central Community School Board, allowing it to contract with private vendors for assistance in operating school cafeterias. The legislative intent is to empower the school board to engage in such contracts without violating constitutional provisions regarding the management of parish or city school systems. The bill will take effect upon the governor's signature or after the lapse of time for gubernatorial action.

Statutes affected:
SB284 Original: 17:194(B)