By: Zaffirini, Lucio S.B. No. 1866

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an award program to recognize school nutrition program excellence.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding Section 12.00251 to read as follows:

Sec. 12.00251. HUNGER FREE SCHOOLS AWARD PROGRAM.

(a) Subject to the availability of funds, the department by rule shall establish an award program under which schools may receive recognition from the department for excellence in providing federally funded meals to students during the school year and during the summer. The department shall create a logo for the award program and publish an application form for the award program on the department's Internet website.

(b) The department by rule shall establish eligibility criteria for schools to quality for consideration of an award under this section. The criteria must include consideration of:

(1) whether the school participates in:

(A) the national school breakfast program provided by the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. Section 1773);

(B) the national school lunch program of free or reduced-price lunches;

(C) the Child and Adult Care Food Program; and

(D) the summer food service program under 42 U.S.C. Section 1761;

(2) for each federal meal program offered by the school, the average daily participation rates of students in the school who are educationally disadvantaged, as defined by Section 5.001, Education Code;

(3) whether the school uses alternative or innovative school food service models for school meal programs;

(4) whether the school makes a school meal program available to all students at no charge through use of the federal Community Eligibility Provision, Provision 2 option under 7 C.F.R. Section 245, or another mechanism; and

(5) any other criteria the department determines is appropriate.

(c) Between November 1 and December 31 of each year, the department shall issue 25 awards under this section. Each award shall be based on the school's performance on the eligibility criteria established under Subsection (b) during the preceding year.

(d) The commissioner shall appoint a selection committee composed of no fewer than five representatives of relevant stakeholder groups to review all eligible applicants and select schools to receive awards of no more than $2,000 under this section.

(e) Any awards made by the department for the award program established under this section shall be deposited into the food service accounts of the schools selected to receive an award under this section. A school may use money received under this section only to invest in the school's nutrition programs, purchase new food-service equipment, or reward the school's nutrition staff.

(f) A school that has an excessive unassigned general fund balance or that is not in compliance with state or federal regulations is not eligible to receive an award under this section.

(g) The department may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or private source to implement this subchapter.

(h) The department may adopt rules as necessary to administer this section.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2016.