SB 5361 - DIGEST
(SEE ALSO PROPOSED 1ST SUB)

Declares an intent to: (1) Maintain its current commitment, to the maximum extent possible, to feed hungry low-income students in public schools at no cost to the students;

(2) Ensure that all low-income students in public schools receive a nutritious school breakfast at no charge, and all low-income students in elementary schools receive school lunch at no charge;

(3) Phase in the free provision of school lunches to all low-income students at all grade levels; and

(4) Invest strategically in capacity building and provision of meals to low-income children during the summer months because children continue to need nutritious meals when school is not in operation during the summer.

Directs the legislature to appropriate funds for allocation to school districts sufficient to eliminate the copayment for breakfast for all students qualifying for reduced-price lunch; and in any school that enrolls students in any of grades preschool through six, eliminate the copayment for lunch for all students qualifying for reduced-price lunch in the school.

Directs the superintendent of public instruction to: (1) Provide state support for summer food service programs, to the extent funds are appropriated; and

(2) Conduct two cycles of grant awards per school year, with a fall cycle of grants of up to twenty thousand dollars to build local capacity to provide summer food service programs and a spring cycle of grants of up to five thousand dollars for expenses related to providing outreach and for planning and administrative tasks associated with initiating a new program.