The bill establishes the Preschool Snack Reimbursement Grant Program in New Jersey, which mandates the state to reimburse preschools for federally unreimbursed costs associated with providing snacks to children. It appropriates $100,000 for this purpose and defines eligibility criteria for preschools and preschoolers, including terms such as "categorically eligible," "income-eligible," and "statutorily eligible." The program aims to enhance access to nutritious snacks for preschool-aged children, particularly those from low-income families, and introduces new definitions for eligible preschools, including "federally approved participant preschool" and "federally unapproved participant preschool."

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to ensure that public preschools maximize the use of federal resources for school meals and snacks, requiring institutions to minimize costs while adhering to nutritional standards. It emphasizes the importance of informing parents and guardians about subsidized meal availability and the application process, ensuring accessibility in multiple languages. The bill also establishes the "Nourishing Young Minds Initiative Fund" to support child food and nutrition programs and outlines the application process for preschools seeking grants, promoting awareness of eligibility for subsidized meals and ensuring families are informed about their rights and application processes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:33-3.2, 18A:33-14.1, 18A:33-14.2, 18A:33-21, 18A:33-22, 18A:33-27.1