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AN ACT
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relating to the adoption of a policy allowing a grace period after |
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the exhaustion of the balance of a meal card or account used by |
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students to purchase meals in public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 33, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 33.908 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.908. GRACE PERIOD POLICY FOR EXHAUSTED OR |
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INSUFFICIENT MEAL CARD OR ACCOUNT BALANCE. A school district that |
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allows students to use a prepaid meal card or account to purchase |
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meals served at the school shall adopt a grace period policy |
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regarding the use of the cards or accounts. The policy: |
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(1) must allow a student whose meal card or account |
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balance is exhausted or insufficient to continue, for a period |
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determined by the district, to purchase meals by: |
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(A) accumulating a negative balance on the |
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student's card or account; or |
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(B) otherwise receiving an extension of credit |
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from the district; |
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(2) must require the district to notify the parent of |
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or person standing in parental relation to the student that the |
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student's meal card or account balance is exhausted; |
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(3) may not permit the district to charge a fee or |
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interest in connection with meals purchased under Subdivision (1); |
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and |
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(4) may permit the district to set a schedule for |
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repayment on the account balance as part of the notice to the parent |
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or person standing in parental relation to the student. |
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SECTION 2. T |
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his Act applies beginning with the 2015-2016 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 3562 was passed by the House on April |
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30, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 136, Nays 3, 1 present, not |
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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No. 3562 on May 27, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 137, Nays 2, |
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3 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 3562 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 25, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 21, Nays |
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10. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |