Connecticut 2023 Regular Session Status: In Committee 4 D cosponsors

SB 929 — AN ACT EXPANDING SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE FREE SCHOOL MEALS TO ALL STUDENTS.

Last action — REF. BY SEN. TO COMM. ON Appropriations

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2023 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

296 added · 117 removed

296 line(s) added, 117 removed.

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General Assembly Raised Bill No.
Senate General Assembly File No.
929 January Session, 2023 LCO No.
47 January Session, 2023 Senate Bill No.
3267 Referred to Committee on COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN Introduced by:
929 Senate, March 13, 2023 The Committee on Children reported through SEN.
(KID) AN ACT EXPANDING SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE FREE SCHOOL MEALS TO ALL STUDENTS.
MAHER, C.
of the 26th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the bill ought to pass.
AN ACT EXPANDING SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE FREE SCHOOL MEALS TO ALL STUDENTS.
[may be fixed by such boards and shall not exceed the cost of food, wages and other expenses directly incurred in providing such services.] When such [services] programs are offered, a board shall provide free school lunches, school breakfasts or other such child feeding to [children whose economic needs require such action under the standards promulgated by said federal laws] all students.
[may be fixed by such boards and shall not exceed the cost of food, wages and other expenses directly incurred in providingsuch services.] When such [services] programs are offered, a board shall provide free school lunches,schoolbreakfastsorothersuchchildfeedingto[childrenwhose economic needs require such action under the standards promulgated SB929 / File No.
Such board is authorized to purchase equipment and supplies that are LCO 3267 \\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-00929-R01 of 4 SB.docx Bill No.
47 1 SB929 File No.
929 necessary, to employ the necessary personnel, to utilize the services of volunteers and to receive and expend any funds and receive and use any equipment and supplies which may become available to carry out the provisions of this section.
47 by said federal laws] all students.
Such board is authorized to purchase equipment and supplies that are necessary, to employ the necessary personnel,toutilizetheservicesofvolunteersandtoreceiveandexpend any funds and receive and use any equipment and supplies which may become available to carry out the provisions of this section.
In the event the unpaid charges for school lunches, breakfasts or other such feeding due from any parent or legal guardian are equal to or more than the cost of thirty meals, the local or regional board of education shall refer such parent or legal guardian to the local homeless education liaison designated by such board, pursuant to Subtitle B of Title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, 42 USC 11431 et seq., as LCO 3267 {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-009292 of 4 R01-SB.docx } Bill No.
In the event the unpaid charges for school lunches, breakfasts or other such feeding due from any parent or legal guardian are equal to or more than the cost of thirty meals, the local or regional board of education shall refer such parent or legal guardian to the local homeless education liaison designated by such board, pursuant to Subtitle B of TitleVIIoftheMcKinney-VentoHomelessAssistanceAct,42USC11431 SB929 / File No.
929 amended from time to time.] [(c)] (b) A local or regional board of education may accept gifts, donations or grants from any public or private sources for the purpose of [paying off any unpaid charges for] providing such school lunches, school breakfasts or other such child feeding.
47 2 SB929 File No.
47 et seq., as amended from time to time.] [(c)] (b) A local or regional board of education may accept gifts, donations or grants from any public or private sources for the purpose of [paying off any unpaid charges for] providing such school lunches, school breakfasts or other such child feeding.
(a) The State Board of Education [is authorized to expend in each fiscal year, within available appropriations,] shall annually provide grants to local and regional boards of education, the Technical Education and Career System and the governing authority of a state charter school, interdistrict magnet school or endowed academy approved pursuant to section 10-34 that participates in the National School Lunch Program and operates a school lunch program, school breakfast program or other child feeding program pursuant to section 10-215, as amended by this act, provided the state board expends in each fiscal year an amount equal to (1) the money required pursuant to the matching requirements of said federal laws and shall disburse the same in accordance with said laws, and (2) at least ten cents per lunch served in the prior school year in accordance with said laws.
(a) The State Board of Education [is authorized to expend in each fiscal year, within available appropriations,] shall annually provide grants to local and regional boards of education, the Technical Education and Career System and the governing authority of a state charter school, interdistrict magnet school or endowed academy approved pursuant to section 10-34 that participates in the National School Lunch Program and operates a school lunch program, school breakfast program or other child feeding program pursuant to section 10-215, asamendedby thisact,providedthestate boardexpendsineach fiscal year an amount equal to (1) the money required pursuant to the matching requirements of said federal laws and shall disburse the same in accordance with said laws, and (2) at least ten cents per lunch served in the prior school year in accordance with said laws.
[by any local or regional board of education, the Technical Education and Career System or governing authority of a state charter school, interdistrict magnet school or endowed academy approved pursuant to section 10-34 that participates in the National School Lunch Program and certifies] Each such board, system and governing authority shall certify, pursuant to section 10-215f, that the nutrition standards established by the Department of Education, pursuant to section 10- 215e, [shall be] have been met.
[by any local or regionalboardofeducation,the TechnicalEducationandCareerSystem or governing authority of a state charter school, interdistrict magnet school or endowed academy approved pursuant to section 10-34 that participates in the National School Lunch Program and certifies] Each such board, system and governing authority shall certify, pursuant to section 10-215f, that the nutrition standards established by the Department of Education, pursuant to section 10-215e, [shall be] have been met.
(b) The State Board of Education shall prescribe the manner and time of application by such board of education, the Technical Education and Career System, such governing authority or controlling authority of the nonpublic schools for such funds, provided such LCO 3267 {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-00923 of 4 R01-SB.docx } Bill No.
(b) The State Board of Education shall prescribe the manner and time of application by such board of education, the Technical Education and Career System, such governing authority or controlling authority of the nonpublic schools for such funds, provided such application shall include the certification that any funds received pursuant to subsection SB929 / File No.
929 application shall include the certification that any funds received pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be used for the program approved.
47 3 SB929 File No.
47 (a) of this section shall be used for the program approved.
Section 1 July 1, 2023 10-215 July 1, 2023 Sec.
Section 1 July 1, 2023 10-215 Sec.
2 10-215b KID Joint Favorable LCO 3267 {\\PRDFS1\SCOUSERS\FORZANOF\WS\2023SB-00929-4 of 4 R01-SB.docx }
2 July 1, 2023 10-215b KID Joint Favorable SB929 / File No.
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47 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.
In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.
Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.
OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 24 $ FY 25 $ Education, Dept.
GF - Cost Potential Potential Significant Significant Note:
GF=General Fund Municipal Impact:
Municipalities Effect FY 24 $ FY 25 $ Various Local and Regional STATE Potential Potential School Districts MANDATE Significant Significant - Revenue Loss/Cost Explanation The bill makes changes regarding school breakfast and lunch programs, which will result in potentially significant annual costs beginning in FY 24 to the State Department of Education and to various local and regional school districts.
Section1 requireslocalandregionalschooldistrictsto operateschool breakfast and lunch programs and prohibits districts from charging students for meals provided through such programs.
The impact to districts generally depends on their current participation in the federal National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
1State mandate is defined in Sec.
2-32b(2) of the Connecticut General Statutes, "state mandate" means any state initiated constitutional, statutory or executive action that requires a local government to establish, expand or modify its activities in such a way as to necessitate additional expenditures from local revenues.
SB929 / File No.
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47 For districts that participate in the National School Lunch Program currently, the impact will vary based on their current level of federal reimbursement.
The federal reimbursement level is affected by student populations and district participation in a program within the NSLP.
Federal reimbursement on a per-meal basis is significantly higher for a meal provided to a student that qualifies (mainly due to low income) for free meals ($4.33 per lunch in FY 23), or reduced-price lunch ($3.93 per lunch), compared to a student who does not qualify for either ($0.77 per lunch).
• Districts that participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program of the NSLP will incur no revenue loss, as the districts already do not charge for student meals.
There are 18 such districts in Connecticut, including the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System.
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• Districts that administer individual schools that participate in the CEP program will incur no revenue loss associated with those schools (which already do not charge for student meals).
There are 12 such districts in Connecticut.
They will incur a revenue loss in schools that are not part of the CEP program, as those schools do charge for meals.
This revenue loss will vary based on the number of students in those schools that currently pay full or reduced price for meals.
• Districts that do not participate in the CEP program at the district-wide or school level will incur a revenue loss associated with providing meals to students in all schools in those districts at no cost to the students.
The revenue loss will vary based on the number of students that currently pay full or reduced price for meals.
Districts with a high percentage of students that currently pay full price will incur significant a significant revenue loss.
To the extent that the bill results in more students opting to receive school meals, districts that participate in the NSLP will incur increased SB929 / File No.
47 6 SB929 File No.
47 costs to provide those meals, in addition to the revenue loss associated with providing meals at no cost to students.
Districts that do not currently participate in the National School LunchProgramwilllikelyincursignificant coststocreateaschoolmeals program (if they do not have one) and provide free meals to all students withno federalreimbursement.It isnot knownhowmany publicschool districts operate school meals programs outside the NSLP, or do not operate school meals programs at all.
Section 2 requires the State Department of Education (SDE) to provide grants to districts that participate in the NSLP and operate a schoolmealsprogram,includingCEPdistrictsandschools.Thesegrants must be equal to at least 10 cents per lunch served in the prior school year, regardless of any federal reimbursement received (e.g., for students eligible for free meals within the NSLP).
The cost to SDE to providethese grants is potentially significant and will vary based on:(1) the number of lunches provided by districts that participate in the NSLP, and (2) the per meal reimbursement SDE uses.
The bill does not provide funding for these grants.
Any grants provided to districts under the bill's provisions would at least partially offset any cost incurred as a result of the requirement to provide free meals to all students.
Costs may also be partially offset by donations, which the bill allows.
The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to the number of meals served by school districts, the level of federal reimbursement those districts receive, and the funding level provided for the SDE-administered grant the bill establishes.
SB929 / File No.
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47 OLR Bill Analysis SB 929 AN ACT EXPANDING SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE FREE SCHOOL MEALS TO ALL STUDENTS.
SUMMARY This bill requires local and regional boards of education to (1) establish and operate a school lunch program and (2) provide lunch meals free of cost to all students regardless of economic status.
For school boards that choose to operate breakfast and other child feeding programs as allowed under current law, the bill requires them to be free to all students.
The bill also makes corresponding changes by eliminating provisions it makes obsolete, such as the provision that requires school boards to have a policy to prohibit employees and third-party vendors from identifying and shaming kids for unpaid lunch charges.
The bill also requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to annually provide grants, at least equal to what it is authorized to spend under current law, to local and regional boards of education;
the Technical Education and Career System;
and the governing authority of a state charter school, interdistrict magnet school, or endowed academy that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and operates a school lunch, breakfast, or other child feeding program.
Current law authorizes SBEto spend these amounts within available appropriations.
The bill also makes technical and conforming changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
July 1, 2023 SB929 / File No.
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47 LUNCH, BREAKFAST, AND OTHER CHILD FEEDING PROGRAMS Programs Current law allows local and regional boards of education to establish and operate a lunch program for public school children as provided under federal law.
The bill requires, rather than allows, them to do so.
Under the law, unchanged by the bill, a school board may (1) operate lunch services for its employees, (2) establish and operate a school breakfast program, as provided under federal law, or (3) establish and operate other child feeding programs it finds necessary.
Charge Under current law, school boards that operate lunch, breakfast, or other child feeding programs (1) are prohibited from charging more than the cost of food, wages, and other expenses directly had in providing these services and (2) must provide the meals free of charge onlytochildrenwhomeetthefederaleconomicneedsstandard.
Instead, under the bill school boards operating any of these programs must providethese mealsfree ofcharge to allstudentsregardlessofeconomic status.
Gifts, Donations, or Grants Current law allows local or regional boards of education to accept gifts, donations, or grants from any public or private source to pay off unpaid student meal charges.
The bill allows the boards to use these funds to provide free meals to students instead.
Obsolete Provisions The bill eliminates provisions that it makes obsolete, such as the requirement that school boards, in any policy or procedure for employees and third-party vendors collecting unpaid charges, include a (1) prohibition on identifying or shaming a child for unpaid meal charges and (2) requirement for procedures to communicate with parents or guardians about collecting a child’s unpaid meal charges.
SB929 / File No.
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47 STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION GRANTS Current law authorizes SBE, within available appropriations, to expend in each fiscal year an amount equal to (1) the money required under the federal matching requirements, which it must disburse in accordance with federal law and (2) 10 cents per lunch served in the priorschoolyear,followingfederallaw,bythelocalandregionalboards of education;
the Technical Education and Career System;
and the governing authority of a state charter school, interdistrict magnet school, or endowed academy that participates in the NSLP and operates a school lunch, breakfast, or other child feeding program.
Instead, the bill requires SBE to provide at least these amounts as annual grants to each of these boards, systems, and governing authorities, who must certify that State Department of Education (SDE) standards were met.
BACKGROUND Related Act PA 23-1, § 1, adjusts the federal American Rescue Plan Act funding allocations for FY 23 by reducing the allocation to the Office of Policy and Management for Invest Connecticut by $60 million and reallocating these funds to SDE for free school meals for students, increasing the current allocation to SDE from $30 million to $90 million.
COMMITTEE ACTION Committee on Children Joint Favorable Yea 14 Nay 5 (02/28/2023) SB929 / File No.
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Action History

  1. REF. BY SEN. TO COMM. ON Appropriations

  2. FILE NO. 47

  3. SENATE CALENDAR NUMBER 64

  4. FAV. RPT., TAB. FOR CAL., SEN.

  5. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  6. REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/13/23

  7. FILED WITH LCO

  8. Joint Favorable

  9. PUBLIC HEARING 0207

  10. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Committee on Children

Sponsors

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6 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 181 not signed on

Sponsors (6)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (181)

181 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 929?
SB 929 is sponsored by Roberts, Kadeem, Geraldo C. Reyes (Democratic), Gary A. Turco (Democratic), Brown, Marcus, Saud Anwar (Democratic), and Derek Slap (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 929?
This bill died with 2023 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 929?
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