HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	540
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to education.

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

SECTION 1. Section 302A-404, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§302A-404 School meals[.]; universal free school lunch. (a) School meals shall be made available under the school meals program in every school where the students are required to eat meals at school.

(b) Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, the department shall serve one school lunch to any requesting student at no cost to the student each school day, regardless of a student's eligibility for participation in the federal National School Lunch Program. Free school lunch shall meet the meal requirements for lunches established pursuant to title 7 Code of Federal Regulations section 210.10.

[(b)] (c) No student shall be denied a meal solely for failure to pay[:

(1) Within the first twenty-one days of the first semester of a school year while the student's application for free or reduced lunch is being processed; or

(2) Within] within seven days after a student's meal fund account reaches a zero or negative balance.

[(c)] (d) The department may adopt rules or policies governing the collection of funds for student meal accounts with a negative fund balance; provided that no rule or policy shall prohibit feeding a student as required pursuant to [subsection] subsections (b)[.] and (c).

(e) It is the intent of this section not to jeopardize the receipt of any federal aid and to the extent, and only to the extent necessary to effectuate this intent, the governor may modify the strict provisions of this section, but shall promptly report any such modification with the governor's reasons therefor to the next succeeding session of the legislature for review."

SECTION 2. Section 302A-405, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) [The] Except as provided in section 302A-404(b), the price for school meals shall be set by the department to ensure that moneys received from the sale of the meals shall be [not] no less than one-half of the cost of preparing the meals. The prices for school meals may be adjusted annually based on the previous year's costs rounded to the nearest five cents; provided that the department by rule shall provide a lower rate or free meals to children based on their economic need."

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 for the total plate costs associated with providing universal free school lunches in department of education schools as required by this Act after federal funding has been accounted.

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

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Universal Free School Lunches; DOE; Appropriation

Description:

Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, requires the department of education to provide free lunch to all enrolled students. Appropriates funds.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.