SB 180 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in pupils and attendance, further providing for Nonprofit School Food Program, repealing provisions relating to school lunch and breakfast reimbursement and establishing the Universal School Meal Program and the Universal School Meal Fund; and making an interfund transfer and an appropriation.

Bill Text

• Printer's No. PN0821 View text Current pdf

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes a Universal School Meal Program to provide two free meals each school day to all students, repeals provisions related to school lunch and breakfast reimbursement, and modifies existing laws regarding school food programs.

• Section 1337.1

  (c.2) To the extent funds are available, the department shall provide State reimbursement to schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program and the National School Breakfast Program for the difference between the reimbursement rate for a free lunch and a reduced price lunch and the difference between the reimbursement rate for a free breakfast and a reduced price breakfast or paid breakfast.

  This change repeals state reimbursement for school lunch and breakfast programs.

• Section 1337(a)

  ["school food program" means a program under which food is served by any school on a nonprofit basis to children in attendance, including any such program under which a school receives assistance out of funds appropriated by the Congress of the United States.] → "School food program" means a program under which food is served by a school on a nonprofit basis to children in attendance, including a program under which a school receives assistance out of money appropriated by the Congress of the United States.

  This change clarifies the definition of 'school food program' by updating the wording.

• Section 1337(c)

  [The Department of Education, and any board of school directors, may accept any gift for use in connection with any school food program.]

  This change removes the provision allowing the Department of Education and school boards to accept gifts for school food programs.

• Section 1337(d)(2)(ii)

  [(ii) If a student is not eligible for participation in the school food program and owes greater than seventy-five dollars ($75) in a school year for school meals, a school may provide the student with alternative meals instead of school food program meals until the student's unpaid balance for school meals is paid or a payment plan has been established with the school to reduce the unpaid balance.]

  This change eliminates the provision that allowed providing alternative meals to students who owe more than $75.

• Section 1337(d)(5)(i)

  [Publicly identifying or stigmatizing a student who cannot pay for a school meal or who owes money for school meals. It shall not constitute public identification or stigmatization of a student for a school to restrict privileges and activities of students who owe money for school meals if those same restrictions apply to students who owe money for other school-related purposes. It shall not constitute public identification or stigmatization of a student for a school to provide a student with an alternative meal pursuant to clause (2)(ii).] → including serving a student an alternative meal or requiring a student to wear a wristband, hand stamp or other article identifying the student as having school meal debt.

  This change broadens the prohibition against stigmatizing students who cannot pay for meals.

• Section 1337.2. Universal School Meal Program.--(a) The Universal School Meal Program is established with the goal to provide two free meals each school day, as permitted by Federal regulations, to each student of a school regardless of the household income of the student.

  This addition establishes a new Universal School Meal Program aiming to provide free meals to all students.

• Section 1337.2(b)

  (1) Further the principle that no child should experience hunger. (2) Provide that each student of a school benefit from healthy meals and have the nourishment needed to achieve academic success, free from stigma or stress.

  This section outlines the purposes of the Universal School Meal Program.

• Section 1337.2(c)

  Each school that participates in the School Breakfast Program shall provide to each enrolled student of the school a meal that meets the requirements of the School Breakfast Program during each school day that the student is in attendance, at no cost, without consideration of the student's eligibility for a federally funded free meal, reduced-price meal or paid meal, with a maximum of one free meal per student for each meal service.

  This section mandates participating schools to provide free breakfast to all students, regardless of their meal eligibility.

• Section 1337.2(d)

  Each school that participates in the National School Lunch Program shall provide to each enrolled student of the school a meal that meets the requirements of the National School Lunch Program during each school day that the student is in attendance, at no cost, without consideration of the student's eligibility for a federally funded free meal, reduced-price meal or paid meal, with a maximum of one free meal per student for each meal service.

  This section mandates participating schools to provide free lunch to all students, regardless of their meal eligibility.

Action History

1. May 22, 2025

   Referred to Education

Sponsors

• Lindsey M. Williams · Primary
• Judith L. Schwank · Cosponsor
• Sharif Street · Cosponsor
• Carolyn T. Comitta · Cosponsor
• Wayne D. Fontana · Cosponsor
• Nikil Saval · Cosponsor
• Vincent J. Hughes · Cosponsor
• Timothy P. Kearney · Cosponsor
• Maria Collett · Cosponsor
• Christine M. Tartaglione · Cosponsor
• Jay Costa · Cosponsor
• Art Haywood · Cosponsor
• John I. Kane · Cosponsor
• Katie J. Muth · Cosponsor
• Marty Flynn · Cosponsor
• Amanda M. Cappelletti · Cosponsor

Subjects