BILL NUMBER: S1526
SPONSOR: MAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring that parents
of students at student orientations, back to school nights, or other
beginning of year events receive notification of eligibility for free or
reduced price meals for students
 
PURPOSE:
To require school districts to distribute information on free or reduced
meal programs to the parents of students at the earliest available times
in the educational year. To allow families that are eligible to be aware
of the meal applications and enroll students as soon as possible.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the Education Law to require school districts to
distribute information on free or reduced meal programs to the parents
of students at the earliest available times in the educational year, in
order to allow families that are eligible to be aware of the meal appli-
cations and enroll students as soon as possible.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Organized meal programs are crucial for academic and personal success of
students in need; however, they can only be efficient if the parents of
students are aware of these programs and enroll their children in a
timely manner. An in-person event offering program information to
parents at the beginning of the year will prove to be much more effec-
tive than depending on electronic or paper mailers. These events will
ensure that school districts are providing necessary information and
applications at the beginning of the year so that less students will
experience the negative effects of hunger.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024 - S.6358 (May) / A.6850 (Sayegh)
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Minimal.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.