AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The purpose of this bill is to enhance access to nutritional food for all children by increasing participation in the national school breakfast program. Studies continuously show that children who eat a nutritious breakfast have improved attentiveness, reduced school nurse visits, and fewer disciplinary problems. Further, children who regularly eat a healthy breakfast are significantly less likely to be overweight.
S.B. 376 requires school district campuses or open-enrollment charter schools with 80 percent or more of their students qualifying for a free or reduced-price breakfast to provide a free breakfast to each student during school hours. This method of targeted breakfast expansion actually allows qualifying schools the ability to achieve a cost-neutral and potentially profitable breakfast program through current financial incentives.
As proposed, S.B. 376 amends current law relating to breakfast for certain public school students.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 33.901, Education Code, as follows:
Sec. 33.901. BREAKFAST PROGRAMS. (a) Creates this subsection from existing text. Makes no further change to this subsection.
(b) Requires a school district campus or an open-enrollment charter school participating in the national school breakfast program provided by the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. Section 1773) in which 80 percent or more of the students qualify for a free or reduced-price breakfast to provide a free breakfast to each student during school hours.
SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2013-2014 school year.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.