Senate Bill 245 aims to establish the Hunger-Free Campus Act in West Virginia, which will create a Hunger-Free Grant Program administered by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. The program's purpose is to provide grants to state institutions of higher education that are designated as hunger-free campuses. The bill outlines specific goals for the grant funding, including addressing student hunger, promoting sustainable solutions for food needs, raising awareness of existing services, and fostering partnerships to combat food insecurity among students.

To qualify as a hunger-free campus, institutions must meet several criteria, such as forming a Campus Hunger Task Force, designating staff to assist with SNAP enrollment, providing options for students to use SNAP benefits, and conducting awareness campaigns. Additionally, campuses must have at least one food pantry or a stigma-free food distribution method, develop a meal credit sharing program, and conduct annual surveys on student hunger. The Chancellor will allocate grant funding based on these qualifications and is required to report to the Governor and Legislature within two years of the program's establishment, detailing the impact of the grants and recommendations for future expansion.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18B-22-1, 18B-22-2, 18B-22-3, 18B-22-4