School breakfast and morning snacks: nonschoolaged children.
Impact
If enacted, AB 996 would significantly impact how breakfast initiatives are implemented in California schools. By formalizing guidance for serving meals to eligible nonschoolaged children, the bill seeks to reduce food insecurity among families who already rely on school meal programs. It recognizes the role of siblings and relatives in ensuring that young children receive nourishment, thereby promoting broader access to essential meals beyond just those enrolled in school. Existing laws that require public schools to provide free or reduced-price meals during the school day will be augmented to include these additional beneficiaries.
Summary
Assembly Bill 996, introduced by Assembly Member Nazarian, focuses on the provision of breakfast and morning snacks specifically for nonschoolaged children, particularly siblings or foster children of enrolled pupils. The bill mandates that the State Department of Education develop guidance for local educational agencies on how to serve eligible nonschoolaged children breakfast or snacks under the federal School Breakfast Program. The aim is to encourage local agencies to feed these children in a way that complements existing school meal programs, while ensuring that appropriate nutritional standards are met without jeopardizing federal funding.
Contention
While the bill is positioned as a necessary step to combat child hunger, it may face scrutiny regarding the logistics and potential administrative burden it imposes on local educational agencies. Concerns have been raised about the requirement for a guardian of an eligible nonschoolaged child to be present at the time of receiving meals, which may create barriers for families. Additionally, as the department will have to evaluate the guidance and report back to the legislature, stakeholders may express concerns related to the sufficiency of federal reimbursements and how changes in policy could affect meal provision consistency.