This bill amends RSA 189:11-a to allow school boards to raise the eligibility threshold for free meals to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. It mandates that meals served to students who meet the federal income eligibility guidelines will continue to be reimbursed according to federal law, while meals not covered by federal reimbursement will be reimbursed by the state at a rate covering 50 percent of the difference between the federal rates for free and reduced-price meals or paid meals. The bill also requires the Department of Education to adopt rules ensuring that school districts provide both online and physical applications for free meals and offers administrative or technical assistance to those districts.

Additionally, the bill includes an appropriation of $107,000 for administrative costs related to the online application process and $250,000 for reimbursements to school districts, with a total estimated fiscal impact potentially reaching $7 million annually, depending on the number of school boards that opt to increase eligibility for free meals. The bill proposes the hiring of two miscellaneous business operator specialists at an estimated cost of $109,000 for FY 2027, $114,000 for FY 2028, and $119,000 for FY 2029, with a projected start date of July 1, 2025. The overall fiscal impact at the local school district level remains indeterminable, as it will depend on individual school board decisions and their unique operational expenses.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 189:11-a
As Amended by the Senate: 189:11-a
SB517 text: 189:11-a