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OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6229
AN ACT ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF FOOD -INSECURE
STUDENTS AT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
SUMMARY
This bill makes a number of changes designed to assess and address
food insecurity for the state’s public college and university students. It
defines “food insecurity” or “food insecure” as the lack of financial
resources needed to consistently access enough food for an active and
healthy life.
Specifically, the bill requires public colleges and universities to do
the following:
1. starting by March 1, 2022, biennially administer a survey to
enrolled students to collect data on student food insecurity and
the causes and reasons for it;
2. starting by October 1, 2022, biennially evaluate their services
and programs addressing the needs of food-insecure students
and, based on the survey results, establish new services and
programs, or amend existing ones, to address these students’
needs;
3. starting by January 1, 2023, biennially report to the Higher
Education Committee on the (a) survey results; (b) food
insecurity services and programs offered, including any
changes made based on the survey results; and (c) number of
students who used the services and programs in the preceding
two years; and
4. notify specified students about their potential eligibility for
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. 2021HB-06229-R000151-BA.DOCX
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The bill requires the Board of Regents for Higher Education (BOR)
and UConn Board of Trustees (BOT) to consult with the Department of
Social Services (DSS) to identify and maximize the number of work-
study programs they offer that qualify as an employment and training
program for purposes of SNAP.
Lastly, the bill requires DSS, when determining SNAP eligibility, to
consider a state public college or university student to be participating
in a federal work-study program as soon as the student is approved for
the program as part of a financial aid package to attend the college or
university, regardless of whether the student has received his or her
work study program assignment yet. Under federal law, a student
who is actively participating in a state or federally funded work-study
program is eligible to receive SNAP benefits. Special eligibility rules
apply during the COVID-19 public health emergency for students who
are eligible to participate in work study (see BACKGROUND).
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2021
§ 1 — FOOD INSECURITY SURV EY
Under the bill, the survey administered by each public college and
university must include questions about a student’s (1) demographic
background, including age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, marital
status, income, education, and employment; (2) specific barriers to
food access; and (3) awareness or use of community or institutional
resources to address food insecurity and barriers to accessing these
resources.
§ 2 — PROGRAMS AND SERVICE S ADDRESSING FOOD
INSECURITY
Under the bill, the services or programs that public colleges and
universities establish or modify to address student food insecurity may
include the following:
1. assistance and support for students to enroll in SNAP or any
other state or federal nutrition assistance or financial aid
program, including programs for families, if applicable; 2021HB-06229-R000151-BA.DOCX
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2. providing low-cost food or meal plan options on campus;
3. allowing students additional meals through extra card swipes
on meal plans;
4. providing financial assistance or other financial student aid;
5. establishing or expanding on-campus food pantries; and
6. starting a fruit and vegetable incentive program or similar
program for students through an agreement with a local
nonprofit or government agency.
The bill requires services and programs amended or established
based on survey results to serve to at least 10% of the students
identified in the survey as being food insecure.
§§ 3 & 4 — SNAP ELIGIBILITY FOR PUBLIC COLLEGE AND
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
By January 1, 2022, the bill requires BOR and BOT to consult with
DSS to (1) identify any of their offered educational programs that
would increase a student’s employability and qualify as an
employment and training program under SNAP student eligibility
requirements (see BACKGROUND) and (2) maximize the number and
types of these programs offered. BOR, BOT, and DSS must also post
and regularly update the list of these qualified programs offered at
each institution under their governance on their website. The bill
allows any of the state’s public colleges and universities to consult
with DSS to identify these programs.
The bill requires each public higher education institution to notify
students identified by the institution’s financial aid office as being
potentially eligible for SNAP and include in the notification (1)
program eligibility requirements, (2) the program application process,
and (3) information on assistance in completing the program
application.
BACKGROUND
SNAP Student Eligibility 2021HB-06229-R000151-BA.DOCX
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Students enrolled at least half-time at a higher education institution
are generally ineligible for SNAP unless they qualify for an exemption.
These exemptions include participating in a (1) state or federally
financed work study program and (2) SNAP employment and training
program or other eligible program.
The federal Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 temporarily
extends SNAP eligibility to students enrolled at least half-time at a
higher education institution who either (1) are eligible to participate in
a state or federally funded work-study program during the academic
year or (2) have an expected family contribution of zero in the
academic year, and meet all other SNAP eligibility criteria. This benefit
extension will remain in effect until 30 days after the COVID-19 public
health emergency ends.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 18 Nay 4 (03/11/2021)