2023 -- S 0071

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LC001234

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- FEDERAL AID

     

     Introduced By: Senators Acosta, Lawson, Valverde, Murray, Quezada, Kallman,
Pearson, Zurier, Gallo, and DiPalma

     Date Introduced: February 01, 2023

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 16-8-10 and 16-8-10.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-8 entitled

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"Federal Aid [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" are hereby

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amended to read as follows:

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     16-8-10. Mandatory school lunch programs Mandatory free school breakfast and

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lunch programs.

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     All public elementary and secondary schools shall be required to make breakfast and type

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A lunches available to students attending those schools in accordance with rules and regulations

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adopted from time to time by the department of elementary and secondary education. To the extent

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that federal, state, and other funds are available, free and reduced price Free breakfast and type A

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lunches shall be provided to all students from families that meet the current specific criteria

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established by federal and state regulations. The requirement that free breakfast and type A lunches

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be provided shall apply to locally managed school breakfast and lunch programs, and school

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breakfast and lunch programs administered directly by the department of elementary and secondary

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education or by any other public agency whether using school facilities or a commercial catering

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service. The department of elementary and secondary education is further authorized to expand the

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school breakfast and lunch program programs to the extent that federal, state, and/or local funds

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are available by the utilization of one or more food preparation centers for delivery to participating

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schools for the purpose of providing meals to students on a more economical basis than could be

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provided by a community acting individually.

 

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     16-8-10.1. Mandatory school breakfast programs.

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     (a) All public schools shall make a free breakfast program available to students attending

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the school, in compliance with the provisions of § 16-8-10. The breakfast meal shall meet any rules

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and regulations that are adopted by the commissioner; provided that no student or the student's

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family shall be charged for the breakfast.

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     (b) The state of Rhode Island shall provide school districts a per breakfast subsidy for each

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breakfast served to students. The general assembly shall annually appropriate some sum and

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distribute it based on each district’s proportion of the number of breakfasts served in the prior

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school year relative to the statewide total in the same year. This subsidy shall augment the nonprofit

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school food service account and be used for expenses incurred in providing nutritious breakfast

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meals to students.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- FEDERAL AID

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     This act would require free breakfast and lunches to be provided for all elementary and

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secondary students attending public schools.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001234

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