SB 36 — AN ACT CONCERNING SCHOOL LUNCH DEBT.

Senate General Assembly CommitteeFile Bill No.

3632 January Session, 2021 LCOSubstitute Senate Bill No.

259036 ReferredSenate, toMarch Committee9, on2021 COMMITTEEThe ONCommittee CHILDRENon IntroducedChildren by:reportedthrough SEN.

(KID)ANWAR ANof ACTthe CONCERNING3rd SCHOOLDist., LUNCHChairperson DEBT.of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING SCHOOL LUNCH DEBT.

Such board is authorized to purchase equipment and suppliesthat are necessary,to employthenecessary personnel,to utilize thesSB36 services/ ofFile volunteers and to receive and expend any funds and receive and use any equipment and supplies which may become LCO No.

259032 1 ofsSB36 3File Committee Bill No.

3632 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.

(b) For the school year commencing July 1, 2021, and each school year thereafter, a local or regional board of education shall include in any policy or procedure for the collection of unpaid charges for school lunches, breakfasts or other such feeding (1) a prohibition on publicly identifying or shaming a child for any such unpaid charges, including, but not limited to, delaying or refusing to serve a meal to such child, designating a specificmealoptionfor suchchildorotherwise takingany disciplinary action against such child,child; (2) a declaration of the right for any child to purchase a meal, which meal may exclude any a la cart items or be limited to one meal daily, and (3) a procedure for communicating with the parent or legal guardian of a child for the purpose of collecting such unpaid charges, which communication shall include, but is not limited to, (A) information regarding local food pantries, (B) applications for the school district's program for free or reduced priced meals and for the supplemental nutrition assistance program administered by the Department of Social Services, and (C) a link to the Internet web site maintained by the town for such school district listing any community services available to the residents of such town.

(2) a declaration of the right of any child to purchase a meal, which meal may exclude any a la carte items or be limited to one meal for any school lunch, breakfast or other such feeding;

and (3) a procedure for communicating with the parent or legal guardian of a child for the purpose of collecting such unpaid charges, which communication shall include, but is not limited to, (A) informationregardinglocalfoodpantries,(B) applicationsfortheschool district's program for free or reduced priced meals and for the supplemental nutrition assistance program administered by the Department of Social Services, and (C) a link to the Internet web site maintained by the town for such school district listing any community services available to the residents of such town.

Section 1 July 1, 2021 10-215 LCOsSB36 / File No.

259032 2 ofsSB36 3File Committee Bill No.

3632 StatementKID ofJoint Purpose:Favorable Subst.

TosSB36 prohibit/ disciplinaryFile actionNo. against public school children for unpaid schoollunchchargesandtoallowanypublicorprivatepartiestodonate to payoff such debt.

[Proposed32 deletions3 aresSB36 enclosedFile inNo. brackets.

Proposed32 additionsThe following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are indicatedprepared byfor underline,the exceptbenefit thatof whenthe members of the entireGeneral textAssembly, solely for purposes of ainformation, billsummarization orand resolutionexplanation orand ado sectionnot ofrepresent athe billintent orof resolutionthe isGeneral new,Assembly itor iseither notchamber underlined.]thereof Co-Sponsors:for any purpose.

SEN.In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

ANWAR,Whenever 3rdapplicable, Dist.;agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

REP.OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

WINKLER,None 56thMunicipal Dist.Impact:

S.B.None Explanation The bill, which makes various procedural changes related to school lunches, is not anticipated to result in a fiscal impact.

36The LCOOut No.Years State Impact:

2590None 3Municipal ofImpact: 3

None sSB36 / File No.

32 4 sSB36 File No.

32 OLR Bill Analysis sSB 36 AN ACT CONCERNING SCHOOL LUNCH DEBT.

SUMMARY This bill requires local or regional boards of education, starting in the 2021-2022 school year, to include the following in any policies or procedures for collecting unpaid school meal charges:

1.

a prohibition on publicly identifying or shaming a child for any unpaid meal charges, including (a) delaying or refusing to serve a meal to the child, (b) designating a specific meal for the child, or (c) taking any disciplinary action against the child;

2.

a declaration of a child’s right to purchase one meal (which may exclude a la carte items) for any school breakfast, lunch, or other feeding;

and 3.

a procedure for communicating with parents or guardians about collecting a child’s unpaid meal charges, including giving them (a) information on local food pantries, (b) applications for free or reduced priced meals and the Department of Social Services’ supplemental nutrition assistance program, and (c) a link to the school district’s website that lists any community services available to town residents.

The bill also allows local or regional boards of education to accept gifts, donations, or grants from any public or private source to pay off any unpaid meal charges.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

July 1, 2021 COMMITTEE ACTION Committee on Children sSB36 / File No.

32 5 sSB36 File No.

32 Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 13 Nay 0 (02/25/2021) sSB36 / File No.

32 6