The proposed bill introduces the "Hunger-Free Campus Act," which aims to address food insecurity among students in public institutions of higher education in West Virginia. The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission is tasked with establishing a Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program to provide financial support to campuses designated as hunger-free. The program's objectives include addressing student hunger, promoting sustainable solutions for food needs, raising awareness of existing services, and fostering partnerships to combat food insecurity.

To qualify as a hunger-free campus, institutions must meet specific criteria, including forming a Campus Hunger Task Force, designating a staff member to assist with enrollment in the West Virginia Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), ensuring campus stores can accept SNAP benefits, providing at least one food pantry, and developing a meal credit sharing program. The commission will allocate grant funding to eligible institutions, with a total appropriation of $1 million to support these initiatives.

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