S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    282
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 8, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. GONZALEZ-ROJAS, RAMOS, WOERNER, RIVERA, LUNSFORD,
   MAHER,  McDONOUGH, GALLAGHER, TORRES, BARRETT, CONRAD, ZACCARO, LEVEN-
   BERG, ROZIC, SHIMSKY, CLARK, ALVAREZ, EPSTEIN, EICHENSTEIN,  ANDERSON,
   SHRESTHA,  DAVILA, SIMON, KELLES, DE LOS SANTOS, COOK, JACKSON, DeSTE-
   FANO, K. BROWN, BRABENEC, JENSEN, WEPRIN, BUTTENSCHON, SIMONE,  BORES,
   JONES,  BICHOTTE HERMELYN, TAGUE, OTIS, TAPIA, JACOBSON, SANTABARBARA,
   LEE, WALKER, SIMPSON, SLATER,  SMITH,  LUPARDO,  SEAWRIGHT,  GALLAHAN,
   BENDETT,  EACHUS,  BURDICK, CHANG, BEEPHAN, BERGER, BLUMENCRANZ, BRON-
   SON, ANGELINO, CRUZ, CUNNINGHAM, DAIS,  R. CARROLL,  DINOWITZ,  DURSO,
   FORREST, GANDOLFO, GIBBS, GLICK, HEVESI, KIM, LAVINE, MAMDANI, MANKTE-
   LOW, McMAHON, MEEKS, MIKULIN, MITAYNES, NOVAKHOV, PHEFFER AMATO, RAGA,
   SAYEGH, STECK, STIRPE, TAYLOR, STERN, REYES, PALMESANO, MILLER, ROSEN-
   THAL, COLTON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend the education law, in relation to providing universal
   school meals to students
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 915-a
 to read as follows:
   § 915-A. UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS. 1. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL  REQUIRE  ALL
 PUBLIC  SCHOOL  DISTRICTS, CHARTER SCHOOLS AND NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE
 STATE THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH  PROGRAM  OR  SCHOOL
 BREAKFAST  PROGRAM AS PROVIDED IN THE RICHARD B. RUSSELL NATIONAL SCHOOL
 LUNCH ACT AND THE CHILD NUTRITION ACT, AS AMENDED,  TO  SERVE  BREAKFAST
 AND  LUNCH  AT NO COST TO THE STUDENT.  PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS, CHARTER
 SCHOOLS AND NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHALL MAXIMIZE FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT  FOR
 SCHOOL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH PROGRAMS BY ADOPTING PROVISION 2, THE FEDERAL
 COMMUNITY  ELIGIBILITY PROVISION, OR ANY OTHER PROVISION UNDER SUCH ACT,
 THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH ACT OR THE NATIONAL CHILD NUTRITION ACT.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00977-01-5
              

 A. 282                              2
 
   2. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REIMBURSE THE DIFFERENCE  BETWEEN  THE  AMOUNT
 PAID BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND THE FREE RATE AS
 SET  ANNUALLY  BY  THE  UNITED  STATES SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE UNDER 42
 U.S.C. 1759A FOR EACH SCHOOL.
   3.  THE  DEPARTMENT  IN  CONSULTATION WITH THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND
 DISABILITY ASSISTANCE SHALL PROMULGATE ANY RULE OR REGULATION NEEDED FOR
 PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS,  CHARTER  SCHOOLS  AND  NON-PUBLIC  SCHOOLS  TO
 PROMOTE  THE  SUPPLEMENTAL  NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO A STUDENT OR
 PERSON IN PARENTAL RELATION TO A STUDENT BY EITHER PROVIDING APPLICATION
 ASSISTANCE OR A DIRECT REFERRAL TO AN OUTREACH PARTNER IDENTIFIED BY THE
 DEPARTMENT TO THE OFFICE  OF  TEMPORARY  AND  DISABILITY  ASSISTANCE  TO
 INCREASE  THE  NUMBER OF STUDENTS DIRECTLY CERTIFIED FOR FREE OR REDUCED
 PRICE SCHOOL MEALS.
   4. IN ADDITION TO FULFILLING ANY OTHER APPLICABLE  STATE  AND  FEDERAL
 REQUIREMENTS,  THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL  PROVIDE  TECHNICAL  ASSISTANCE TO
 ASSIST PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS, CHARTER SCHOOLS, AND NON-PUBLIC  SCHOOLS
 IN THE TRANSITION TO UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS TO ENSURE SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM
 OPERATIONS AND TO MAXIMIZE FEDERAL FUNDING, INCLUDING:
   A. ASSISTING LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES WITH ONE OR MORE COMMUNITY-EL-
 IGIBILITY  QUALIFYING  SCHOOLS IN MEETING ANY STATE AND FEDERAL REQUIRE-
 MENTS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT THROUGH THE  COMMUNITY
 ELIGIBILITY PROVISION.
   B.  IF  A  SCHOOL  OR  DISTRICT IS INELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT
 THROUGH THE COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION,  ASSISTING  THE  SCHOOL  OR
 DISTRICT  IN  ACHIEVING ELIGIBILITY AND, IF THAT IS NOT FEASIBLE, ASSIST
 THE SCHOOL OR DISTRICT IN DETERMINING THE VIABILITY OF USING PROVISION 2
 OR OTHER SPECIAL FEDERAL PROVISIONS AVAILABLE TO SCHOOLS.
   C. MAXIMIZING DIRECT CERTIFICATION FOR SPECIFIC POPULATIONS AS  ALLOW-
 ABLE UNDER FEDERAL RULES.
   § 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.