§ 16-8-10.1. Mandatory school breakfast programs.
(a) All public elementary and secondary schools shall be required to make federally reimbursable school breakfasts available to students attending those schools through the USDA’s School Breakfast Program (SBP) in accordance with federal regulation as well as rules and regulations that are adopted from time to time by the department of elementary and secondary education. To the extent that federal, state, and other funds are available, free reimbursable breakfasts shall be provided to all students from families that meet the current specific criteria established by federal and state regulations to qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The state of Rhode Island shall provide additional funds to public schools in an amount equal to the difference between the federal reimbursement rate received for a free breakfast and the federal reimbursement rate received for each student eligible for a reduced-price breakfast and receiving breakfast.
(b) The state of Rhode Island shall provide school districts a per-breakfast subsidy for each breakfast served to students. The general assembly shall annually appropriate some sum and distribute it based on each district’s proportion of the number of breakfasts served in the prior school year relative to the statewide total in the same year. This subsidy shall augment the nonprofit school food service account and be used for expenses incurred in providing nutritious breakfast meals to students.
History of Section.
P.L. 1998, ch. 31, art. 31, § 5; P.L. 1999, ch. 31, art. 23, § 4; P.L. 1999, ch. 219,
§ 1; P.L. 2000, ch. 55, art. 20, § 3; P.L. 2000, ch. 206, § 1; P.L. 2003, ch. 376,
art. 9, § 13; P.L. 2005, ch. 117, art. 13, § 7; P.L. 2024, ch. 117, art. 8, § 4, effective
June 17, 2024.