| Old | New | Differences | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | ||
| 2 | 2 | ||
| 3 | 3 | EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDE D TO EXISTING LAW . | |
| 4 | 4 | [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law. | |
| 5 | - | Underlining indicates amendments to bill. | |
| 6 | - | Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by | |
| 7 | - | amendment. | |
| 8 | 5 | *hb0696* | |
| 9 | 6 | ||
| 10 | 7 | HOUSE BILL 696 | |
| 11 | 8 | F1 4lr0863 | |
| 12 | 9 | HB 628/23 – W&M CF SB 579 | |
| 13 | 10 | By: Delegates Palakovich Carr, Allen, Attar, Atterbeary, Bagnall, Bartlett, Boafo, | |
| 14 | 11 | Charkoudian, Crutchfield, Cullison, Ebersole, Embry, Fair, Feldmark, | |
| 15 | 12 | Foley, Forbes, Fraser–Hidalgo, Grossman, Guyton, Guzzone, Harris, | |
| 16 | 13 | Healey, Henson, Hill, Holmes, D. Jones, Kaufman, Kerr, Lehman, R. Lewis, | |
| 17 | 14 | J. Long, Lopez, Love, McCaskill, Metzgar, Mireku –North, Pasteur, | |
| 18 | 15 | Patterson, Pena–Melnyk, Qi, Rogers, Rosenberg, Ruth, Shetty, Simmons, | |
| 19 | 16 | Simpson, Solomon, Spiegel, Stein, Stewart, Taveras, Terrasa, Turner, Vogel, | |
| 20 | 17 | Wells, White Holland, Wilkins, Williams, Wims, Wolek, Wu, and Ziegler | |
| 21 | 18 | Introduced and read first time: January 25, 2024 | |
| 22 | 19 | Assigned to: Ways and Means | |
| 23 | - | Committee Report: Favorable with amendments | |
| 24 | - | House action: Adopted | |
| 25 | - | Read second time: March 23, 2024 | |
| 26 | 20 | ||
| 27 | - | ||
| 21 | + | A BILL ENTITLED | |
| 28 | 22 | ||
| 29 | 23 | AN ACT concerning 1 | |
| 30 | 24 | ||
| 31 | 25 | Primary and Secondary Education – Breakfast and Lunch Programs – Universal 2 | |
| 32 | - | Expansion | |
| 26 | + | Expansion 3 | |
| 33 | 27 | ||
| 34 | 28 | FOR the purpose of altering the standards of the State Free Feeding Program, beginning 4 | |
| 35 | 29 | in a certain fiscal year, to require that if a school participates in a certain federal 5 | |
| 36 | 30 | nutritional program, then each student in the school must be offered a meal at no 6 | |
| 37 | 31 | cost to the student; providing for the reimbursement rate at which the State shall 7 | |
| 38 | 32 | pay county boards and participating nonpublic schools for the free meals offered to 8 | |
| 39 | 33 | students; prohibiting a county board or nonpublic school from charging a student any 9 | |
| 40 | - | portion of the cost of a certain breakfast or lunch requiring the State Department of 10 | |
| 41 | - | Education, on or before a certain date, to report to the General Assembly on a cost 11 | |
| 42 | - | estimate for providing free breakfast and lunch to all students in public schools; and 12 | |
| 43 | - | generally relating to a report on the expansion of breakfast and lunch meals to all 13 | |
| 44 | - | students in participating public schools. 14 | |
| 34 | + | portion of the cost of a certain breakfast or lunch; and generally relating to the 10 | |
| 35 | + | expansion of breakfast and lunch meals to all students in participating schools. 11 | |
| 45 | 36 | ||
| 46 | - | BY adding to 15 | |
| 47 | - | Article – Education 16 | |
| 48 | - | Section 7–601 and 7–607 17 2 HOUSE BILL 696 | |
| 37 | + | BY adding to 12 | |
| 38 | + | Article – Education 13 | |
| 39 | + | Section 7–601 and 7–607 14 | |
| 40 | + | Annotated Code of Maryland 15 | |
| 41 | + | (2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 16 | |
| 42 | + | ||
| 43 | + | BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 17 | |
| 44 | + | Article – Education 18 | |
| 45 | + | Section 7–601 through 7–605 and 7–702 19 | |
| 46 | + | Annotated Code of Maryland 20 | |
| 47 | + | (2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 21 | |
| 48 | + | 2 HOUSE BILL 696 | |
| 49 | 49 | ||
| 50 | 50 | ||
| 51 | - | Annotated Code of Maryland 1 | |
| 52 | - | (2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 2 | |
| 51 | + | BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 1 | |
| 52 | + | Article – Education 2 | |
| 53 | + | Section 7–701 3 | |
| 54 | + | Annotated Code of Maryland 4 | |
| 55 | + | (2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 5 | |
| 53 | 56 | ||
| 54 | - | BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 3 | |
| 55 | - | Article – Education 4 | |
| 56 | - | Section 7–601 through 7–605 and 7–702 5 | |
| 57 | - | Annotated Code of Maryland 6 | |
| 58 | - | (2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 7 | |
| 57 | + | SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 6 | |
| 58 | + | That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 7 | |
| 59 | 59 | ||
| 60 | - | BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 8 | |
| 61 | - | Article – Education 9 | |
| 62 | - | Section 7–701 10 | |
| 63 | - | Annotated Code of Maryland 11 | |
| 64 | - | (2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 12 | |
| 60 | + | Article – Education 8 | |
| 65 | 61 | ||
| 66 | - | SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13 | |
| 67 | - | That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14 | |
| 62 | + | 7–601. 9 | |
| 68 | 63 | ||
| 69 | - | ||
| 64 | + | IN THIS SUBTITLE, “PROGRAM” MEANS THE STATE FREE FEEDING PROGRAM. 10 | |
| 70 | 65 | ||
| 71 | - | 7–601. | |
| 66 | + | [7–601.] 7–602. 11 | |
| 72 | 67 | ||
| 73 | - | IN THIS SUBTITLE, “PROGRAM” MEANS THE STATE FREE FEEDING PROGRAM. 17 | |
| 68 | + | (a) The State Board shall adopt and publish standards for the administration of 12 | |
| 69 | + | the [free feeding program] PROGRAM. 13 | |
| 74 | 70 | ||
| 75 | - | [7–601.] 7–602. 18 | |
| 71 | + | (b) The standards shall [provide for eligibility requirements for the program] 14 | |
| 72 | + | ENSURE THAT , BEGINNING IN FISCAL YEAR 2026: 15 | |
| 76 | 73 | ||
| 77 | - | (a) The State Board shall adopt and publish standards for the administration of 19 | |
| 78 | - | the [free feeding program] PROGRAM. 20 | |
| 74 | + | (1) IF A SCHOOL PARTICIPA TES IN THE FEDERAL SCHOOL 16 | |
| 75 | + | BREAKFAST PROGRAM BY PROVIDING A FREE OR REDUCED PR ICE BREAKFAST TO A 17 | |
| 76 | + | STUDENT, EACH STUDENT IN THE SCHOOL SHALL BE OFFE RED A FREE BREAKFAST 18 | |
| 77 | + | THAT MEETS THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NUTRITION STANDARDS 19 | |
| 78 | + | UNDER THE FEDERAL SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM; AND 20 | |
| 79 | 79 | ||
| 80 | - | (b) The standards shall [provide for eligibility requirements for the program] 21 | |
| 81 | - | ENSURE THAT , BEGINNING IN FISCAL YEAR 2026: 22 | |
| 80 | + | (2) IF A SCHOOL PARTICIPA TES IN THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH 21 | |
| 81 | + | PROGRAM BY PROVIDING A FREE OR REDUCED PR ICE LUNCH TO A STUDE NT, EACH 22 | |
| 82 | + | STUDENT IN THE SCHOO L SHALL BE OFFERED A FREE LUNCH THAT MEET S THE U.S. 23 | |
| 83 | + | DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NUTRITION STANDARDS UNDER THE NATIONAL 24 | |
| 84 | + | SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM. 25 | |
| 82 | 85 | ||
| 83 | - | (1) IF A SCHOOL PARTICIPA TES IN THE FEDERAL SCHOOL 23 | |
| 84 | - | BREAKFAST PROGRAM BY PROVIDING A FREE OR REDUCED PR ICE BREAKFAST TO A 24 | |
| 85 | - | STUDENT, EACH STUDENT IN THE SCHOOL SHALL BE OFFE RED A FREE BREAKFAST 25 | |
| 86 | - | THAT MEETS THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NUTRITION STANDARDS 26 | |
| 87 | - | UNDER THE FEDERAL SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM; AND 27 | |
| 86 | + | [7–602.] 7–603. 26 | |
| 88 | 87 | ||
| 89 | - | (2) IF A SCHOOL PARTICIPA TES IN THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH 28 | |
| 90 | - | PROGRAM BY PROVIDING A FREE OR REDUCED PR ICE LUNCH TO A STUDE NT, EACH 29 | |
| 91 | - | STUDENT IN THE SCHOO L SHALL BE OFFERED A FREE LUNCH THAT MEET S THE U.S. 30 | |
| 92 | - | DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NUTRITION STANDARDS UNDER THE NATIONAL 31 | |
| 93 | - | SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM. 32 | |
| 88 | + | (a) There is a State Free Feeding Program. 27 | |
| 94 | 89 | ||
| 95 | - | [7–602.] 7–603. 33 | |
| 96 | - | HOUSE BILL 696 3 | |
| 90 | + | (b) (1) Each year the State Superintendent shall determine the amount of 28 | |
| 91 | + | State money required to provide the Program in accordance with the standards adopted by 29 | |
| 92 | + | the State Board under this subtitle. 30 | |
| 93 | + | ||
| 94 | + | (2) The amount included for this Program in the annual State budget, 31 | |
| 95 | + | including any federal funds, and as submitted to and appropriated by the General 32 HOUSE BILL 696 3 | |
| 97 | 96 | ||
| 98 | 97 | ||
| 99 | - | (a) There is a State Free Feeding Program. 1 | |
| 98 | + | Assembly, shall be distributed to the county boards and participating nonpublic schools in 1 | |
| 99 | + | the same manner as the process established under § 5–205 of this article. 2 | |
| 100 | 100 | ||
| 101 | - | ( | |
| 102 | - | ||
| 103 | - | ||
| 101 | + | (c) (1) A nonpublic school in the State that participates in the federal School 3 | |
| 102 | + | Breakfast Program or the National School Lunch Program may participate in the [State 4 | |
| 103 | + | free feeding program] PROGRAM. 5 | |
| 104 | 104 | ||
| 105 | - | (2) The amount included for this Program in the annual State budget, 5 | |
| 106 | - | including any federal funds, and as submitted to and appropriated by the General 6 | |
| 107 | - | Assembly, shall be distributed to the county boards and participating nonpublic schools in 7 | |
| 108 | - | the same manner as the process established under § 5–205 of this article. 8 | |
| 105 | + | (2) If a nonpublic school participates in the [State free feeding program] 6 | |
| 106 | + | PROGRAM, the State shall be responsible for reimbursing the participating nonpublic 7 | |
| 107 | + | school under subsection (d) of this section. 8 | |
| 109 | 108 | ||
| 110 | - | ( | |
| 111 | - | ||
| 112 | - | ||
| 109 | + | (d) (1) [The] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED UN DER PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS 9 | |
| 110 | + | SUBSECTION, THE State shall be responsible for reimbursing a county board or a 10 | |
| 111 | + | participating nonpublic school for the student share of the costs of: 11 | |
| 113 | 112 | ||
| 114 | - | (2) If a nonpublic school participates in the [State free feeding program] 12 | |
| 115 | - | PROGRAM, the State shall be responsible for reimbursing the participating nonpublic 13 | |
| 116 | - | school under subsection (d) of this section. 14 | |
| 113 | + | [(1)] (I) Breakfasts provided to all students eligible for a reduced price 12 | |
| 114 | + | breakfast under the federal School Breakfast Program according to the following schedule: 13 | |
| 117 | 115 | ||
| 118 | - | (d) (1) [The] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED UN DER PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS 15 | |
| 119 | - | SUBSECTION, THE State shall be responsible for reimbursing a county board or a 16 | |
| 120 | - | participating nonpublic school for the student share of the costs of: 17 | |
| 116 | + | [(i)] 1. For fiscal year 2020, 10 cents per student; 14 | |
| 121 | 117 | ||
| 122 | - | [(1)] (I) Breakfasts provided to all students eligible for a reduced price 18 | |
| 123 | - | breakfast under the federal School Breakfast Program according to the following schedule: 19 | |
| 118 | + | [(ii)] 2. For fiscal year 2021, 20 cents per student; and 15 | |
| 119 | + | ||
| 120 | + | [(iii)] 3. For fiscal year 2022 and each fiscal year thereafter, the 16 | |
| 121 | + | greater of 30 cents per student or the required federal per meal charge to students; and 17 | |
| 122 | + | ||
| 123 | + | [(2)] (II) Lunches provided to all students eligible for a reduced price 18 | |
| 124 | + | lunch under the National School Lunch Program according to the following schedule: 19 | |
| 124 | 125 | ||
| 125 | 126 | [(i)] 1. For fiscal year 2020, 10 cents per student; 20 | |
| 126 | 127 | ||
| 127 | - | [(ii)] 2. For fiscal year 2021, 20 cents per student; | |
| 128 | + | [(ii)] 2. For fiscal year 2021, 20 cents per student; 21 | |
| 128 | 129 | ||
| 129 | - | [(iii)] 3. For fiscal year 2022 and each fiscal year thereafter, the 22 | |
| 130 | - | greater of 30 cents per student or the required federal per meal charge to students; and 23 | |
| 130 | + | [(iii)] 3. For fiscal year 2022, 30 cents per student; and 22 | |
| 131 | 131 | ||
| 132 | - | [( | |
| 133 | - | ||
| 132 | + | [(iv)] 4. For fiscal year 2023 and each fiscal year thereafter, the 23 | |
| 133 | + | greater of 40 cents per student or the required federal per meal charge to students. 24 | |
| 134 | 134 | ||
| 135 | - | [(i)] 1. For fiscal year 2020, 10 cents per student; 26 | |
| 135 | + | (2) (I) SUBJECT TO SUBPARAGRA PH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH , FOR 25 | |
| 136 | + | FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER , THE STATE SHALL BE 26 | |
| 137 | + | RESPONSIBLE FOR REIM BURSING A COUNTY BOA RD OR A PARTICIPATIN G 27 | |
| 138 | + | NONPUBLIC SCHOOL FOR THE COST OF: 28 | |
| 136 | 139 | ||
| 137 | - | [(ii)] 2. For fiscal year 2021, 20 cents per student; 27 | |
| 138 | - | ||
| 139 | - | [(iii)] 3. For fiscal year 2022, 30 cents per student; and 28 | |
| 140 | - | ||
| 141 | - | [(iv)] 4. For fiscal year 2023 and each fiscal year thereafter, the 29 | |
| 142 | - | greater of 40 cents per student or the required federal per meal charge to students. 30 | |
| 143 | - | 4 HOUSE BILL 696 | |
| 140 | + | 1. OFFERING EACH STUDENT IN A PARTICIPATING 29 | |
| 141 | + | SCHOOL A FREE BREAKF AST THAT QUALIFIES U NDER THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 30 | |
| 142 | + | AGRICULTURE REIMBURSA BLE GUIDELINES ; AND 31 4 HOUSE BILL 696 | |
| 144 | 143 | ||
| 145 | 144 | ||
| 146 | - | (2) (I) SUBJECT TO SUBPARAGRA PH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH , FOR 1 | |
| 147 | - | FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER , THE STATE SHALL BE 2 | |
| 148 | - | RESPONSIBLE FOR REIM BURSING A COUNTY BOA RD OR A PARTICIPATING 3 | |
| 149 | - | NONPUBLIC SCHOOL FOR THE COST OF: 4 | |
| 150 | 145 | ||
| 151 | - | | |
| 152 | - | SCHOOL A FREE | |
| 153 | - | AGRICULTURE REIMBURSA BLE GUIDELINES | |
| 146 | + | 2. OFFERING EACH STUDENT IN A PARTICIPATING 1 | |
| 147 | + | SCHOOL A FREE LUNCH THAT QUALIFIES UNDER THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 2 | |
| 148 | + | AGRICULTURE REIMBURSA BLE GUIDELINES . 3 | |
| 154 | 149 | ||
| 155 | - | 2. OFFERING EACH STUDENT IN A PARTICIPATING 8 | |
| 156 | - | SCHOOL A FREE LUNCH T HAT QUALIFIES UNDER THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 9 | |
| 157 | - | AGRICULTURE REIMBURSA BLE GUIDELINES . 10 | |
| 150 | + | (II) 1. IN CALCULATING THE CO ST OF REI MBURSING A 4 | |
| 151 | + | COUNTY BOARD OR PART ICIPATING NONPUBLIC SCHOOL FOR A STUDENT WHO IS 5 | |
| 152 | + | ELIGIBLE FOR A REDUC ED PRICE BREAKFAST O R LUNCH, THE STATE SHALL USE THE 6 | |
| 153 | + | REIMBURSEMENT RATE L ISTED UNDER PARAGRAP H (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION . 7 | |
| 158 | 154 | ||
| 159 | - | (II) 1. IN CALCULATING THE CO ST OF REIMBURSING A 11 | |
| 160 | - | COUNTY BOARD OR PART ICIPATING NONPUBLIC SCHOOL FOR A STUDENT WHO IS 12 | |
| 161 | - | ELIGIBLE FOR A REDUC ED PRICE BREAKF AST OR LUNCH, THE STATE SHALL USE THE 13 | |
| 162 | - | REIMBURSEMENT RATE L ISTED UNDER PARAGRAP H (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION . 14 | |
| 155 | + | 2. IN CALCULATING THE CO ST OF REI MBURSING A 8 | |
| 156 | + | COUNTY BOARD OR PART ICIPATING NONPUBLIC SCHOOL FOR A STUDENT WHO IS 9 | |
| 157 | + | NOT COVERED UNDER SU BSUBPARAGRAPH 1 OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH : 10 | |
| 163 | 158 | ||
| 164 | - | 2. IN CALCULATING THE CO ST OF REIMBURSING A 15 | |
| 165 | - | COUNTY BOARD OR PART ICIPATING NONPUBLIC SCHOOL FOR A STUDENT WHO IS 16 | |
| 166 | - | NOT COVERED UNDER SU BSUBPARAGRAPH 1 OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH : 17 | |
| 159 | + | A. IF THE STUDENT ATTEND S A SCHOOL THAT 11 | |
| 160 | + | PARTICIPATES IN THE FEDERAL COMMUNITY EL IGIBILITY PROVISION OF THE CHILD 12 | |
| 161 | + | NUTRITION PROGRAMS , THE STATE SHALL PAY THE D IFFERENCE BETWEEN TH E 13 | |
| 162 | + | APPLICABLE FREE MEAL REIMBURSEMENT RATE A ND THE APPLICABLE PA ID MEAL 14 | |
| 163 | + | REIMBURSEMENT RATE , AS SET ANNUALLY BY T HE U.S. SECRETARY OF 15 | |
| 164 | + | AGRICULTURE UNDER 42 U.S.C. § 1759A; AND 16 | |
| 167 | 165 | ||
| 168 | - | A. IF THE STUDENT ATTEND S A SCHOOL THAT 18 | |
| 169 | - | PARTICIPATES IN THE FEDERAL COMMUNITY EL IGIBILITY PROVISION OF THE CHILD 19 | |
| 170 | - | NUTRITION PROGRAMS , THE STATE SHALL PAY THE D IFFERENCE BETWEEN TH E 20 | |
| 171 | - | APPLICABLE FREE MEAL REIMBURSEMENT RATE A ND THE APPLICABLE PAID MEAL 21 | |
| 172 | - | REIMBURSEMENT RATE , AS SET ANNUALLY BY T HE U.S. SECRETARY OF 22 | |
| 173 | - | AGRICULTURE UNDER 42 U.S.C. § 1759A; AND 23 | |
| 166 | + | B. IF THE STUDENT DOES NOT ATT END A SCHOOL THAT 17 | |
| 167 | + | PARTICIPATES IN THE FEDERAL COMMUNITY EL IGIBILITY PROVISION OF THE CHILD 18 | |
| 168 | + | NUTRITION PROGRAMS , THE STATE SHALL PAY THE D IFFERENCE BETWEEN TH E 19 | |
| 169 | + | APPLICABLE FREE MEAL RATE AND THE APPLICA BLE PAID MEAL RATE , AS SET 20 | |
| 170 | + | ANNUALLY B Y THE U.S. SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE UNDER 42 U.S.C. § 1759A. 21 | |
| 174 | 171 | ||
| 175 | - | B. IF THE STUDENT DOES N OT ATTEND A SCHOOL T HAT 24 | |
| 176 | - | PARTICIPATES IN THE FEDERAL COMMUNITY EL IGIBILITY PROVISION OF THE CHILD 25 | |
| 177 | - | NUTRITION PROGRAMS , THE STATE SHALL PAY THE D IFFERENCE BETWEEN TH E 26 | |
| 178 | - | APPLICABLE FREE MEAL RATE AND THE APPLICA BLE PAID MEAL RATE , AS SET 27 | |
| 179 | - | ANNUALLY BY THE U.S. SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE UNDER 42 U.S.C. § 1759A. 28 | |
| 172 | + | (e) (1) Beginning in fiscal year 2022, a county board or participating nonpublic 22 | |
| 173 | + | school may not charge a student who is eligible for a reduced price breakfast for any portion 23 | |
| 174 | + | of the cost of the meal. 24 | |
| 180 | 175 | ||
| 181 | - | ( | |
| 182 | - | school may not charge a student who is eligible for a reduced price | |
| 183 | - | ||
| 176 | + | (2) Beginning in fiscal year 2023, a county board or participating nonpublic 25 | |
| 177 | + | school may not charge a student who is eligible for a reduced price lunch for any portion of 26 | |
| 178 | + | the cost of the meal. 27 | |
| 184 | 179 | ||
| 185 | - | (2) Beginning in fiscal year 2023, a county board or participating nonpublic 32 | |
| 186 | - | school may not charge a student who is eligible for a reduced price lunch for any portion of 33 | |
| 187 | - | the cost of the meal. 34 | |
| 188 | - | HOUSE BILL 696 5 | |
| 180 | + | (3) BEGINNING IN FISCAL Y EAR 2026, A COUNTY BOARD O R 28 | |
| 181 | + | PARTICIPATING NONPUB LIC SCHOOL MAY NOT C HARGE ANY STUDENT AN Y PORTION 29 | |
| 182 | + | OF THE COST OF A BRE AKFAST THAT MEETS TH E NUTRITIONAL STANDA RDS OF THE 30 | |
| 183 | + | FEDERAL SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM OR A LUNCH TH AT MEETS THE 31 | |
| 184 | + | NUTRITIONAL STANDARD S OF THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM. 32 | |
| 185 | + | ||
| 186 | + | [7–603.] 7–604. 33 | |
| 187 | + | ||
| 188 | + | Each public school and participating nonpublic school in this State shall provide a 34 HOUSE BILL 696 5 | |
| 189 | 189 | ||
| 190 | 190 | ||
| 191 | - | (3) BEGINNING IN FISCAL Y EAR 2026, A COUNTY BOARD OR 1 | |
| 192 | - | PARTICIPATING NONPUB LIC SCHOOL MAY NOT C HARGE ANY STUDENT AN Y PORTION 2 | |
| 193 | - | OF THE COST OF A BRE AKFAST THAT MEETS TH E NUTRITIONAL STANDARDS OF THE 3 | |
| 194 | - | FEDERAL SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM OR A LUNCH TH AT MEETS THE 4 | |
| 195 | - | NUTRITIONAL STANDARD S OF THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM. 5 | |
| 191 | + | free feeding program for children who meet the standards adopted by the State Board under 1 | |
| 192 | + | this subtitle. 2 | |
| 196 | 193 | ||
| 197 | - | [7– | |
| 194 | + | [7–604.] 7–605. 3 | |
| 198 | 195 | ||
| 199 | - | | |
| 200 | - | ||
| 201 | - | ||
| 196 | + | Funds appropriated for the [free feeding program] PROGRAM shall be used to 4 | |
| 197 | + | reimburse each county board and participating nonpublic school for the difference between 5 | |
| 198 | + | costs and all available reimbursements and other funds. 6 | |
| 202 | 199 | ||
| 203 | - | [7– | |
| 200 | + | [7–605.] 7–606. 7 | |
| 204 | 201 | ||
| 205 | - | Funds appropriated for the [free feeding program] PROGRAM shall be used to 11 | |
| 206 | - | reimburse each county board and participating nonpublic school for the difference between 12 | |
| 207 | - | costs and all available reimbursements and other funds. 13 | |
| 202 | + | (a) The General Assembly finds the following policies desirable in the 8 | |
| 203 | + | administration and application of the [school feeding program] PROGRAM: 9 | |
| 208 | 204 | ||
| 209 | - | [7–605.] 7–606. 14 | |
| 205 | + | (1) Private organizations and corporations should be encouraged to 10 | |
| 206 | + | participate in the [program] PROGRAM; 11 | |
| 210 | 207 | ||
| 211 | - | (a) The General Assembly finds the following policies desirable in the 15 | |
| 212 | - | administration and application of the [school feeding program] PROGRAM: 16 | |
| 208 | + | (2) The identity of children who participate in the [free feeding program] 12 | |
| 209 | + | PROGRAM should remain anonymous and positive procedures should be adopted to 13 | |
| 210 | + | accomplish this; and 14 | |
| 213 | 211 | ||
| 214 | - | (1) Private organizations and corporations should be encouraged to 17 | |
| 215 | - | participate in the [program] PROGRAM; 18 | |
| 212 | + | (3) Applications for participants in the [program] PROGRAM should be 15 | |
| 213 | + | brief and simple, based on a statement of present income and family size or of participation 16 | |
| 214 | + | in a social services or welfare program. 17 | |
| 216 | 215 | ||
| 217 | - | (2) The identity of children who participate in the [free feeding program] 19 | |
| 218 | - | PROGRAM should remain anonymous and positive procedures should be adopted to 20 | |
| 219 | - | accomplish this; and 21 | |
| 216 | + | (b) There may not be discrimination in this [program] PROGRAM for elementary, 18 | |
| 217 | + | junior high, and high school students. 19 | |
| 220 | 218 | ||
| 221 | - | (3) Applications for participants in the [program] PROGRAM should be 22 | |
| 222 | - | brief and simple, based on a statement of present income and family size or of participation 23 | |
| 223 | - | in a social services or welfare program. 24 | |
| 219 | + | 7–607. 20 | |
| 224 | 220 | ||
| 225 | - | (b) There may not be discrimination in this [program] PROGRAM for elementary, 25 | |
| 226 | - | junior high, and high school students. 26 | |
| 221 | + | IT IS THE INTENT OF T HE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT THE STATE, EACH 21 | |
| 222 | + | COUNTY BOARD , AND PARTICIPATING NO NPUBLIC SCHOOLS MAXI MIZE THE USE OF 22 | |
| 223 | + | ALL AVAILABLE FEDERA L FUNDS IN CARRYING OUT THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE 23 | |
| 224 | + | PROGRAM. 24 | |
| 227 | 225 | ||
| 228 | - | 7–607. 27 | |
| 226 | + | SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 25 | |
| 227 | + | as follows: 26 | |
| 229 | 228 | ||
| 230 | - | IT IS THE INTENT OF T HE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT THE STATE, EACH 28 | |
| 231 | - | COUNTY BOARD , AND PARTIC IPATING NONPUBLIC SC HOOLS MAXIMIZE THE U SE OF 29 | |
| 232 | - | ALL AVAILABLE FEDERA L FUNDS IN CARRYING OUT THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE 30 | |
| 233 | - | PROGRAM. 31 | |
| 229 | + | Article – Education 27 | |
| 230 | + | ||
| 231 | + | 7–701. 28 | |
| 232 | + | ||
| 233 | + | (a) (1) The State Board shall require each county board to provide in each 29 | |
| 234 | + | elementary school a free breakfast, unless the school is exempted under § 7–702 of this 30 | |
| 235 | + | subtitle. 31 | |
| 234 | 236 | 6 HOUSE BILL 696 | |
| 235 | 237 | ||
| 236 | 238 | ||
| 237 | - | | |
| 238 | - | ||
| 239 | + | (2) (i) A nonpublic elementary school may provide a free breakfast 1 | |
| 240 | + | program in accordance with this subtitle. 2 | |
| 239 | 241 | ||
| 240 | - | Article – Education 3 | |
| 242 | + | (ii) If a nonpublic elementary school provides a free breakfast 3 | |
| 243 | + | program, the participating nonpublic elementary school shall be eligible for the State 4 | |
| 244 | + | reimbursement of the student share of the costs for those breakfasts under § 7–703 of this 5 | |
| 245 | + | article. 6 | |
| 241 | 246 | ||
| 242 | - | 7–701. 4 | |
| 247 | + | (b) The free breakfast required to be provided under this section shall meet the 7 | |
| 248 | + | standards of the United States Department of Agriculture. 8 | |
| 243 | 249 | ||
| 244 | - | (a) (1) The State Board shall require each county board to provide in each 5 | |
| 245 | - | elementary school a free breakfast, unless the school is exempted under § 7–702 of this 6 | |
| 246 | - | subtitle. 7 | |
| 250 | + | 7–702. 9 | |
| 247 | 251 | ||
| 248 | - | ( | |
| 249 | - | ||
| 252 | + | [(a)] The State Superintendent shall exempt any elementary school from the 10 | |
| 253 | + | requirements of this subtitle if: 11 | |
| 250 | 254 | ||
| 251 | - | (ii) If a nonpublic elementary school provides a free breakfast 10 | |
| 252 | - | program, the participating nonpublic elementary school shall be eligible for the State 11 | |
| 253 | - | reimbursement of the student share of the costs for those breakfasts under § 7–703 of this 12 | |
| 254 | - | article. 13 | |
| 255 | + | (1) (i) The school has made a breakfast program available for at least 3 12 | |
| 256 | + | consecutive months; and 13 | |
| 255 | 257 | ||
| 256 | - | ( | |
| 257 | - | ||
| 258 | + | (ii) The participation is less than 25% of the number of students 14 | |
| 259 | + | eligible for free and reduced price eligible meals in each month; OR 15 | |
| 258 | 260 | ||
| 259 | - | 7–702. 16 | |
| 261 | + | (2) (i) The county board approves an alternative nutrition program that 16 | |
| 262 | + | the school has instituted; 17 | |
| 260 | 263 | ||
| 261 | - | | |
| 262 | - | ||
| 264 | + | (ii) The school regularly conducts an assessment of the alternative 18 | |
| 265 | + | program that provides evidence of success in achieving program objectives; and 19 | |
| 263 | 266 | ||
| 264 | - | ( | |
| 265 | - | ||
| 267 | + | (iii) The school submits an annual report of the assessment to the 20 | |
| 268 | + | county board and the State[; 21 | |
| 266 | 269 | ||
| 267 | - | ( | |
| 268 | - | ||
| 270 | + | (3) (i) The school requests an exemption for reasons of a compelling 22 | |
| 271 | + | nature to the county board; and 23 | |
| 269 | 272 | ||
| 270 | - | ( | |
| 271 | - | the | |
| 273 | + | (ii) After review and approval, the county board submits the request 24 | |
| 274 | + | for exemption to the State Superintendent; or 25 | |
| 272 | 275 | ||
| 273 | - | ( | |
| 274 | - | ||
| 276 | + | (4) The school has less than 15% of its enrollment approved for free and 26 | |
| 277 | + | reduced price eligible meals]. 27 | |
| 275 | 278 | ||
| 276 | - | (iii) The school submits an annual report of the assessment to the 27 | |
| 277 | - | county board and the State[; 28 | |
| 279 | + | [(b) The exemption in subsection (a)(4) of this section shall continue from year to 28 | |
| 280 | + | year without the need for reapplication, until there is a 10% increase in the number of 29 | |
| 281 | + | students approved for free and reduced price eligible meals.] 30 | |
| 278 | 282 | ||
| 279 | - | (3) (i) The school requests an exemption for reasons of a compelling 29 | |
| 280 | - | nature to the county board; and 30 | |
| 281 | - | ||
| 282 | - | (ii) After review and approval, the county board submits the request 31 | |
| 283 | - | for exemption to the State Superintendent; or 32 HOUSE BILL 696 7 | |
| 283 | + | SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 2 of this Act shall take 31 | |
| 284 | + | effect July 1, 2025. 32 HOUSE BILL 696 7 | |
| 284 | 285 | ||
| 285 | 286 | ||
| 286 | 287 | ||
| 287 | - | | |
| 288 | - | ||
| 288 | + | SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, except as provided in Section 1 | |
| 289 | + | 3 of this Act, this Act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 2 | |
| 289 | 290 | ||
| 290 | - | [(b) The exemption in subsection (a)(4) of this section shall continue from year to 3 | |
| 291 | - | year without the need for reapplication, until there is a 10% increase in the number of 4 | |
| 292 | - | students approved for free and reduced price eligible meals.] 5 | |
| 293 | - | ||
| 294 | - | SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 2 of this Act shall take 6 | |
| 295 | - | effect July 1, 2025. 7 | |
| 296 | - | ||
| 297 | - | SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, except as provided in Section 8 | |
| 298 | - | 3 of this Act, this Act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 9 | |
| 299 | - | ||
| 300 | - | (a) (1) The Maryland General Assembly recognizes the positive impact on 10 | |
| 301 | - | students’ academic, physical, and social and emotional health that results from ensuring 11 | |
| 302 | - | students have access to breakfast and lunch programs while at school. 12 | |
| 303 | - | ||
| 304 | - | (2) While Maryland has made significant progress in providing meals to all 13 | |
| 305 | - | students through a variety of programs, this has led to a patchwork approach across the 14 | |
| 306 | - | State. 15 | |
| 307 | - | ||
| 308 | - | (b) On or before December 1, 2024, the State Department of Education shall 16 | |
| 309 | - | report to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government 17 | |
| 310 | - | Article, on the cost to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students in public schools in 18 | |
| 311 | - | the State. 19 | |
| 312 | - | ||
| 313 | - | (c) In determining the cost estimate for the report required under subsection (b) 20 | |
| 314 | - | of this section, the Department shall consider: 21 | |
| 315 | - | ||
| 316 | - | (1) for each county, the current rate of providing free breakfast and lunch 22 | |
| 317 | - | through programs including: 23 | |
| 318 | - | ||
| 319 | - | (i) Maryland Meals for Achievement; and 24 | |
| 320 | - | ||
| 321 | - | (ii) participation in the United States Department of Agriculture 25 | |
| 322 | - | Community Eligibility Program; and 26 | |
| 323 | - | ||
| 324 | - | (2) for each county, including data disaggregated by elementary, middle, 27 | |
| 325 | - | and high school, and by breakfast and lunch: 28 | |
| 326 | - | ||
| 327 | - | (i) the participation rates in the school meals program; 29 | |
| 328 | - | ||
| 329 | - | (ii) the student cost for meals; 30 | |
| 330 | - | ||
| 331 | - | (iii) subsidies provided to students to assist in the cost of meals; 31 | |
| 332 | - | 8 HOUSE BILL 696 | |
| 333 | - | ||
| 334 | - | ||
| 335 | - | (iv) school attendance rates; 1 | |
| 336 | - | ||
| 337 | - | (v) the staffing costs of providing meals on a per pupil basis; and 2 | |
| 338 | - | ||
| 339 | - | (vi) the thresholds for participation in the Community Eligibility 3 | |
| 340 | - | Provisions. 4 | |
| 341 | - | ||
| 342 | - | (d) In addition, the Department shall compile research completed in other states 5 | |
| 343 | - | that have established universal meal programs and prepare a summary of any findings 6 | |
| 344 | - | presented in those reports as part of its report under subsection (b) of this section. 7 | |
| 345 | - | ||
| 346 | - | SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 8 | |
| 347 | - | 1, 2024. It shall remain effective for a period of 1 year and, at the end of June 30, 2025, this 9 | |
| 348 | - | Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no 10 | |
| 349 | - | further force and effect. 11 | |
| 350 | - | ||
| 351 | - | ||
| 352 | - | ||
| 353 | - | Approved: | |
| 354 | - | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 355 | - | Governor. | |
| 356 | - | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 357 | - | Speaker of the House of Delegates. | |
| 358 | - | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 359 | - | President of the Senate. |