The New York State Senate

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9518
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              March 16, 2022
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M. of A. GONZALEZ-ROJAS -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation  to  providing  universal
   school meals to students
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section  915-a
 to read as follows:
   §  915-A.  UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS. 1. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REQUIRE ALL
 PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS, CHARTER SCHOOLS AND NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS  IN  THE
 STATE  THAT  PARTICIPATE  IN THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM OR SCHOOL
 BREAKFAST PROGRAM AS PROVIDED IN THE NATIONAL CHILD  NUTRITION  ACT,  AS
 AMENDED, TO SERVE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH AT NO COST TO THE STUDENT.  PUBLIC
 SCHOOL  DISTRICTS, CHARTER SCHOOLS AND NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHALL MAXIMIZE
 ACCESS TO FEDERAL FUNDS FOR THE  COST  OF  SCHOOL  BREAKFAST  AND  LUNCH
 PROGRAMS  BY  ADOPTING  PROVISION 2 OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY
 PROVISIONS OR ANY OTHER PROVISION UNDER SUCH ACT,  THE  NATIONAL  SCHOOL
 LUNCH  ACT OR THE NATIONAL CHILD NUTRITION ACT AS DEEMED ELIGIBLE BY THE
 DEPARTMENT.
   2. TO THE EXTENT THAT THE COST OF MAKING AVAILABLE SCHOOL LUNCHES  AND
 BREAKFASTS PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION ARE NOT REIMBURS-
 ABLE  THROUGH  FEDERAL  FUNDS,  THE  DEPARTMENT SHALL REIMBURSE ALL SUCH
 COSTS. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REIMBURSE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE  AMOUNT
 PAID BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND THE FREE RATE AS
 SET  ANNUALLY  BY  THE  UNITED  STATES SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE UNDER 42
 U.S.C. 1759A FOR EACH SCHOOL.
   3. THE DEPARTMENT IN CONSULTATION WITH THE  OFFICE  OF  TEMPORARY  AND
 DISABILITY ASSISTANCE SHALL PROMULGATE ANY RULE OR REGULATION NEEDED FOR
 PUBLIC  SCHOOL  DISTRICTS,  CHARTER  SCHOOLS  AND  NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO
 PROMOTE THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO  A  STUDENT  OR
 PERSON IN PARENTAL RELATION TO A STUDENT BY EITHER PROVIDING APPLICATION
 ASSISTANCE OR A DIRECT REFERRAL TO AN OUTREACH PARTNER IDENTIFIED BY THE
 DEPARTMENT  TO  THE  OFFICE  OF  TEMPORARY  AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE TO
 INCREASE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS DIRECTLY CERTIFIED FOR FREE  OR  REDUCED
 PRICE SCHOOL MEALS.
   § 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.
 

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD14994-01-2