SB 348 — Pupil meals.

Summary

(1) Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and secondary schools in this state. This system is composed of local educational agencies throughout the state that provide instruction to pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, at schoolsites operated by these agencies. Existing law, commencing with the 2022–23 school year, requires each school district and county superintendent of schools maintaining kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, and each charter school to provide 2 nutritiously adequate school meals free of charge during each schoolday, regardless of the length of the schoolday, to any pupil who requests a meal without consideration of the pupil's eligibility for a federally funded free or reduced-price meal, as specified, with a maximum of one free meal for each meal service period. Existing law requires the department to develop and maintain nutrition guidelines for school lunches and breakfasts, and for all food and beverages sold on public school campuses. Existing law requires a school district, county superintendent of schools, or charter school to provide each needy pupil with one nutritionally adequate free or reduced-price meal during each schoolday, except as provided. This bill would revise and recast provisions regarding school meals for needy pupils by, among other things, instead requiring each school district, county superintendent of schools, and charter school to make available a nutritionally adequate breakfast, as defined, and a nutritionally adequate lunch, as defined, free of charge during each schoolday, as defined, to any pupil who requests a meal, without consideration of the pupil's eligibility for a federally funded free or reduced-price meal, as provided. The bill would require each school district, county office of education, or charter school that offers independent study to meet the above meal requirements for any pupil on any schoolday that the pupil is scheduled for educational activities, as provided. The bill would require the State Department of Education to submit a waiver request to the United States Department of Agriculture to allow for one meal to be provided during a schoolday lasting 4 hours or less to be served in a noncongregate manner. The bill would authorize each school district, county superintendent of schools, and charter school to make available either a nutritionally adequate breakfast or a nutritionally adequate lunch, as defined, in a noncongregate manner, as provided, if the State Department of Education receives approval for the federal noncongregate waiver. The bill would require each school district, county superintendent of schools, and charter school to provide pupils with adequate time to eat, as determined by that school district, county superintendent of schools, or charter school in consideration of the recommendations provided by the department. The bill would require a chartering authority, among other things, to provide technical assistance to a charter school to meet these meal requirements, as provided. If the federal School Breakfast Program and federal National School Lunch Program allow more added sugar or sodium than is recommended by the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans, as described, the bill would require the department to convene representatives from specified entities to work in partnership to provide maximum daily added sugar and sodium intake recommendations for each grade level, as provided. The bill also would make conforming changes to related provisions of law. By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies and officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district to establish rules to determine which pupils are needy and authorizes a nominal cash payment for school meals to be collected from pupils that are not eligible for free meals and requires the State Department of Education to determine the amount of cash payment that may be required of those pupils. Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to reimburse school districts for free and reduced-price meals served or sold based on the median statewide meal costs. This bill would delete those provisions. (3) Existing federal law provides for the permanent and nationwide Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children (Summer EBT) program, under which pupils who are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals receive $40 per month during summer months for grocery benefits. This bill would require the State Department of Education to work in partnership with the State Department of Social Services to maximize participation in the federal Summer EBT program, as provided. (4) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Bill Text

• Chaptered 10/08/23 - Chaptered Current pdf October 08, 2023
• Enrolled 09/11/23 - Enrolled pdf September 11, 2023
• Amended 09/01/23 - Amended Assembly pdf September 01, 2023
• Amended 06/30/23 - Amended Assembly pdf June 30, 2023
• Amended 06/14/23 - Amended Assembly pdf June 14, 2023
• Amended 05/18/23 - Amended Senate pdf May 18, 2023
• Amended 03/20/23 - Amended Senate pdf March 20, 2023
• Introduced 02/08/23 - Introduced pdf February 08, 2023
• SB348 View text html

Action History

1. October 08, 2023

   Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 600, Statutes of 2023.

2. October 08, 2023

   Approved by the Governor.

3. September 13, 2023

   Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.

4. September 07, 2023

   Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2469.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

5. September 06, 2023

   In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

6. September 06, 2023

   Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 2965.) Ordered to the Senate.

7. September 05, 2023

   Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

8. September 01, 2023

   Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

9. September 01, 2023

   From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (September 1).

10. August 23, 2023

    August 23 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.

11. July 12, 2023

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 11). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

12. June 30, 2023

    Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S.

13. June 29, 2023

    From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 28).

14. June 14, 2023

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on ED.

15. June 08, 2023

    Referred to Coms. on ED. and HUM. S.

16. May 31, 2023

    In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

17. May 30, 2023

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 1364.) Ordered to the Assembly.

18. May 26, 2023

    Ordered to special consent calendar.

19. May 22, 2023

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

20. May 18, 2023

    Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

21. May 18, 2023

    From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 1166.) (May 18).

22. May 12, 2023

    Set for hearing May 18.

23. May 01, 2023

    May 1 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.

24. April 21, 2023

    Set for hearing May 1.

25. April 18, 2023

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 0. Page 748.) (April 17). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

26. April 11, 2023

    Set for hearing April 17.

27. March 29, 2023

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HUMAN S. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 570.) (March 29). Re-referred to Com. on HUMAN S.

28. March 20, 2023

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on ED.

29. March 08, 2023

    Set for hearing March 29.

30. February 15, 2023

    Referred to Coms. on ED. and HUMANS S.

31. February 09, 2023

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 11.

32. February 08, 2023

    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Sponsors

• Luz Rivas · Cosponsor
• Mia Bonta · Cosponsor
• Skinner · Primary
• Bob Archuleta · Cosponsor
• Lena A. Gonzalez · Cosponsor
• Melissa Hurtado · Cosponsor
• Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh · Cosponsor
• Aisha Wahab · Cosponsor
• Wilk · Cosponsor
• Dawn Addis · Cosponsor
• Marc Berman · Cosponsor
• Josh Hoover · Cosponsor
• Blanca E. Rubio · Cosponsor
• Juan Carrillo · Cosponsor

Votes

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