Connecticut 2021 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB06229 Compare Versions

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7	7		General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 6229
8	8		January Session, 2021
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14	14		AN ACT ADDRESSING TH E NEEDS OF FOOD-INSECURE STUDENTS
15	15		AT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
16	16		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
17	17		Assembly convened:
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19	19		Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) (a) As used in this section, 1
20	20		"food insecurity" or "food insecure" means the lack of financial resources 2
21	21		needed to consistently access enough food for an active and healthy life. 3
22	22		(b) Not later than March 1, 2022, and biennially thereafter, each public 4
23	23		institution of higher education in the state shall administer a survey to 5
24	24		each student enrolled at such institution for the purpose of collecting 6
25	25		data on the number of students who are food insecure and the causes of 7
26	26		and reasons for such food insecurity. Such survey shall include, but 8
27	27		need not be limited to, questions regarding a student's (1) demographic 9
28	28		background, including age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, marital 10
29	29		status, income, education and employment; (2) specific barriers to food 11
30	30		access; and (3) awareness or use of community or institutional resources 12
31	31		to address food insecurity and any barriers to accessing such resources. 13
32	32		(c) Not later than October 1, 2022, and biennially thereafter, each 14
33	33		public institution of higher education shall evaluate any services and 15
34	34		programs offered by such institution to address the needs of food-16
35	35		insecure students. Based on the results of the survey administered 17
36	36		pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, each institution shall amend 18 Substitute Bill No. 6229
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43	43		any existing or establish new services and programs to address the 19
44	44		needs of food-insecure students. Such services or programs may 20
45	45		include, but not be limited to, (1) assistance and support for students to 21
46	46		enroll in the supplemental nutrition assistance program pursuant to the 22
47	47		federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 or any other state or federal 23
48	48		program for nutrition assistance or financial aid, including programs for 24
49	49		families, if applicable to the student; (2) providing low-cost food or meal 25
50	50		plan options on campus; (3) allowing students additional meals through 26
51	51		extra card swipes on meal plans; (4) providing financial assistance or 27
52	52		other financial student aid; (5) establishing or expanding a food pantry 28
53	53		on campus; or (6) initiating a fruit and vegetable incentive program, or 29
54	54		making such program available to students through agreement with a 30
55	55		community nonprofit organization or governmental agency that 31
56	56		provides such program. When amending or establishing any services or 32
57	57		programs pursuant to this subsection, each institution shall have the 33
58	58		goal of providing such services and programs to not less than ten per 34
59	59		cent of the number of students identified as being food insecure in the 35
60	60		survey administered pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. 36
61	61		(d) Not later than January 1, 2023, and biennially thereafter, each 37
62	62		public institution of higher education in the state shall submit a report, 38
63	63		in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 39
64	64		to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 40
65	65		cognizance of matters relating to higher education, regarding any food 41
66	66		insecurities among the students at such institution, including, but not 42
67	67		limited to, (1) results from the survey administered pursuant to 43
68	68		subsection (b) of this section, (2) services and programs to address the 44
69	69		needs of food insecure students, including any amendments made to 45
70	70		such services or programs pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, and 46
71	71		(3) the number of students who utilized such services and programs 47
72	72		during the preceding two years. 48
73	73		Sec. 2. Section 17b-105f of the general statutes is amended by adding 49
74	74		subsections (e) and (f) as follows (Effective July 1, 2021): 50
75	75		(NEW) (e) (1) Not later than January 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, 51 Substitute Bill No. 6229
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82	82		the Board of Regents for Higher Education and the Board of Trustees of 52
83	83		The University of Connecticut shall consult with the Department of 53
84	84		Social Services for the purpose of identifying any educational program 54
85	85		offered at an institution of higher education governed by said boards 55
86	86		that qualifies as an employment and training program which increases 56
87	87		a student's employability and complies with the requirements for an 57
88	88		exemption, as specified in 7 CFR 273.5(b)(11), as amended from time to 58
89	89		time, from the supplemental nutrition assistance program eligibility 59
90	90		rule in 7 CFR 273.5(a), as amended from time to time. In identifying such 60
91	91		educational programs, the department and said boards shall seek to 61
92	92		maximize the number and types of employment and training programs 62
93	93		offered at the institution of higher education governed by said boards. 63
94	94		(2) Any independent institution of higher education in the state may, 64
95	95		in such institution's discretion, consult with the Department of Social 65
96	96		Services for the purposes set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection. 66
97	97		(NEW) (f) Not later than July 1, 2022, the Department of Social 67
98	98		Services, the Board of Regents for Higher Education and the Board of 68
99	99		Trustees of The University of Connecticut shall each post, and regularly 69
100	100		update, on their Internet web site, the list of educational programs 70
101	101		offered at each institution of higher education governed by said boards 71
102	102		that has been qualified as an employment and training program 72
103	103		pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of this section. 73
104	104		Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) For the purpose of determining 74
105	105		eligibility for the supplemental nutrition assistance program pursuant 75
106	106		to the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended from time to 76
107	107		time, the Department of Social Services shall consider any student 77
108	108		enrolled in an institution of higher education in the state to be 78
109	109		participating in a state or federally financed work-study program if such 79
110	110		student receives approval of work-study as part of a financial aid 80
111	111		package to attend such institution of higher education, regardless of 81
112	112		whether such student has received his or her work-study program 82
113	113		assignment. 83 Substitute Bill No. 6229
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120	120		Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) Each public institution of higher 84
121	121		education shall notify any student identified by the financial aid office 85
122	122		of such public institution of higher education as potentially eligible for 86
123	123		the supplemental nutrition assistance program pursuant to the federal 87
124	124		Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended from time to time, 88
125	125		regarding (1) the qualification requirements for such program, (2) the 89
126	126		application procedure for such program, and (3) where to obtain 90
127	127		assistance in completing an application for such program.91
128	128		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
129	129		sections:
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131	131		Section 1 July 1, 2021 New section
132	132		Sec. 2 July 1, 2021 17b-105f
133	133		Sec. 3 July 1, 2021 New section
134	134		Sec. 4 July 1, 2021 New section
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136	136		HED Joint Favorable Subst.
137		-	HS Joint Favorable
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