HF 2368 (LSB 6057YH (3) 90)

HOUSE FILE 2368

BY  RINKER

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to school lunch programs provided by school districts and accredited nonpublic schools and making appropriations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  283A.6  Free school lunch program.
   1.  Each school district described in chapter 274 and each accredited nonpublic school shall operate a program under which lunches are served to students in attendance at no charge to the student or the student’s family. Meals served pursuant to this subsection shall be nutritionally adequate meals.
   2.  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024, and for each fiscal year thereafter, there is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the department of education an amount necessary to make the payments to school districts and accredited nonpublic schools necessary to cover the costs of providing school lunches pursuant to this section that are not covered by any Act of Congress and appropriated to the state of Iowa for use in connection with school lunch programs.
   3.  The state board of education shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer this section.
    Sec. 2.  Section 283A.10, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   283A.10  School breakfast or lunch in nonpublic schools.
   The Unless required under section 283A.6, the authorities in charge of nonpublic schools may operate or provide for the operation of school breakfast or lunch programs in schools under their jurisdiction and may use funds appropriated to them by the general assembly, gifts, funds received from sale of school breakfasts or lunches under such programs, and any other funds available to the nonpublic school. However, unless required under section 283A.6, school breakfast or lunch programs shall not be required in nonpublic schools. The department of education shall direct the disbursement of state funds to nonpublic schools for school breakfast or lunch programs in the same manner as state funds are disbursed to public schools. If a nonpublic school receives state funds for the operation of a school breakfast or lunch program, meals served under the program shall be nutritionally adequate meals, as defined in section 283A.1.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to school lunch programs provided by school districts and accredited nonpublic schools (schools).
   The bill requires each school to operate a program under which lunches are served to students in attendance at no charge to the student or the student’s family.
   The bill appropriates from the general fund of the state to the department of education an amount necessary to make the payments to schools necessary to cover the costs of providing free school lunches that are not covered by any Act of Congress and appropriated to the state of Iowa for use in connection with school lunch programs. The bill requires the state board of education to adopt rules to administer these provisions. The bill makes conforming changes.