1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1013 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 261
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Sal N. DiDomenico
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to universal school meals.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Sal N. DiDomenicoMiddlesex and SuffolkJack Patrick Lewis7th Middlesex1/23/2023Hannah Kane11th Worcester1/24/2023Michael D. BradySecond Plymouth and Norfolk1/24/2023Nick CollinsFirst Suffolk1/24/2023Jacob R. OliveiraHampden, Hampshire and Worcester1/25/2023Brian W. Murray10th Worcester1/25/2023Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester1/25/2023Paul W. MarkBerkshire, Hampden, Franklin and
Hampshire
1/25/2023Michael J. Soter8th Worcester1/27/2023Manny Cruz7th Essex1/27/2023Jason M. LewisFifth Middlesex1/27/2023Patricia D. JehlenSecond Middlesex1/27/2023Danillo A. Sena37th Middlesex1/27/2023Robyn K. KennedyFirst Worcester1/27/2023Mathew J. Muratore1st Plymouth1/27/2023Anne M. GobiWorcester and Hampshire1/27/2023 2 of 2
Sean Garballey23rd Middlesex1/27/2023Kenneth I. Gordon21st Middlesex1/30/2023Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex1/30/2023John F. KeenanNorfolk and Plymouth1/30/2023Walter F. TimiltyNorfolk, Plymouth and Bristol1/31/2023Jessica Ann Giannino16th Suffolk1/31/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/1/2023Mark C. MontignySecond Bristol and Plymouth2/1/2023Susan Williams Gifford2nd Plymouth2/2/2023Michael O. MooreSecond Worcester2/2/2023Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk2/2/2023Lydia EdwardsThird Suffolk2/6/2023Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin2/6/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/10/2023Rodney M. Elliott16th Middlesex2/14/2023Adam GomezHampden2/23/2023Carlos González10th Hampden3/1/2023Rebecca L. RauschNorfolk, Worcester and Middlesex3/1/2023Paul R. FeeneyBristol and Norfolk3/7/2023Julian CyrCape and Islands3/9/2023 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1013 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 261
By Mr. DiDomenico, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 261) of Sal N. DiDomenico,
Jack Patrick Lewis, Hannah Kane, Michael D. Brady and other members of the General Court
for legislation relative to universal school meals. Education.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 314 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act relative to universal school meals.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 1C of Chapter 69 of the General Law, as appearing in the 2020
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the third paragraph the following:- “The
3board shall require all schools providing school lunch as provided in the National School Lunch
4Act as amended or school breakfast as provided in the National Child Nutrition Act as amended,
5to make breakfast and lunch available at no charge to each attending student. Schools shall
6maximize access to federal funds for the cost of school breakfast and lunch programs by
7adopting the federal Community Eligibility Provision, Provision 2, or other provisions under
8these acts.
9 To the extent that costs are not reimbursed through federal funds the cost of making
10available school lunches and breakfasts shall be borne by the department of elementary and 2 of 2
11secondary education. The department shall reimburse the difference between the amount paid by
12the United States Department of Agriculture and the free rate as set annually by the United States
13Secretary of Agriculture under 42 U.S.C. 1759a for each school.
14 The department, in consultation with the department of transitional assistance, shall
15promulgate regulations for schools to promote the supplemental nutrition assistance program to
16families by either providing application assistance or a direct referral to an outreach partner
17identified by the department of transitional assistance or department of elementary and secondary
18education.”
19 SECTION 2. Sections under this act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.