BILL NUMBER: S594
SPONSOR: HINCHEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to providing universal
school meals to students
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Relates to providing universal school meals to students
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends education law by adding a new section 915-a to require
all public school districts, charter schools, and non-public schools to
serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to students.
Section 2 sets forth the bill's effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The health and economic crises brought on by the COV1D-19 pandemic have
made the importance of the federal school meat programs clearer than
ever. A record number of New Yorkers do not have enough to eat, and it
is Likely that the economic recovery for families who struggle to put
food on the table will take years beyond the end of the pandemic.
While many New York schools - predominantly our larger, urban school
districts - offer meals at no cost for all through CEP, 270 schools in
our state are eligible for CEP but not participating, often because they
are unable to make it work financially. Many of these schools are our
smallest school districts in rural communities, where poverty is less
concentrated but still prevalent.
There has never been a more important time to invest in school meals.
As of 2024 nine states have fully implemented free school meals regard-
less of income, as well as several municipalities in New York State
including New York City and Albany. 1
This bill would ensure that every K-12 student in New York has equal
access to a nutritious breakfast and lunch at school to support their
health and academic success at no cost to them.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023: S1678A referred to Education / A1941 referred to Education
2024: S1678A referred to Education / A1941 referred to Education
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:,
This act shall take effect July 1, 2024
1 States that Have Passed Universal Free School Meats (So Far)