THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	154
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program for schools. The National School Lunch Program provides daily low-cost or free, balanced meals to children from households making a certain income. However, the legislature notes that the department of education estimates that up to fifteen thousand children each year from gap groups do not qualify for the National School Lunch Program.

Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to develop a state school meal subsidy program within the department of education.

SECTION 2. (a) The department of education shall develop and implement a school meal subsidy program for students attending department of education schools.

(b) The school meal subsidy program shall target children whose families are not otherwise eligible for free lunch under the free and reduced price lunch program administered by the department of education's school food services branch and that meet the income eligibility participation requirements established by the department of education pursuant to subsection (c).

(c) The department of education shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to carry out the purposes of the school meal subsidy program established by this Act, including but not limited to income eligibility participation requirements and maximum amount of the subsidy offered by the program.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to develop and implement the school meal subsidy program established by this Act.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

Department of Education; School Meal Subsidy Program; Appropriation

Description:

Requires the Department of Education to develop and implement a School Meal Subsidy Program to provide school lunch subsidies to children whose families do not otherwise qualify for free lunch under the federal Free and Reduced Price Lunch Program, subject to income eligibility. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

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