H1023 - Coronavirus Relief Fund/Additions & Revisions. (SL 2020-80)

Overview: Sec. 2.3 of S.L. 2020-80 directs the State Board of Education to report by October 15, 2021, to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on unpaid meal charges in local school administrative units (LEAs). The report must include the following information:

• The percentage of students of all grade levels in each LEA who (i) qualify for and participate in reduced price meals and (ii) do not carry an unpaid meal charge.
• The total amount of debt carried by each LEA related to unpaid meal charges.
• Summaries of approaches adopted by each LEA regarding unpaid meal charges.
• Options for a statewide policy on the uniform administration of unpaid meal charges in local LEAs. Every option shall ensure that students are not prevented from receiving nutritious meals because of an unpaid meal charge.

This section also directs the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to transfer $3.9 million in nonrecurring funds from the School Bus Replacement Fund to the State Public School Fund for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. The funds must be used to provide free school lunches to students of all grade levels qualifying for reduced-price meals in all schools participating in the National School Lunch Program in the 2020-2021 school year. If the funds are insufficient to provide lunch for all qualifying students, DPI must use any excess funds appropriated for the National School Breakfast Program to cover the costs.

This section became effective July 1, 2020.