The bill amends South Dakota law to establish guidelines for the reimbursement of school districts that provide free or reduced-price meals to eligible students. It specifies that if a student qualifies for free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program, the school district cannot charge them for meals provided through its food services program. Conversely, the bill allows school districts to impose charges for meals provided to students who do not qualify for these programs, as well as to employees and other individuals not exempted.

Additionally, the bill mandates that each school district must ensure that parents or guardians of potentially eligible students complete and submit a school meal application annually. It also stipulates that the Department of Education will reimburse school districts for the costs incurred in providing meals to eligible students, after accounting for any reimbursements received from the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/23/2025: 13-35-2