An Act To Increase Access to Nutritious Foods in Schools by Implementing an After-school Food Program for At-risk Students
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §6602, sub-§1, ¶D is enacted to read:
D. A school administrative unit shall participate in the federal child and adult care food program established in 42 United States Code, Section 1766 as required under this paragraph. The commissioner shall assist school administrative units subject to the requirements of this paragraph in developing a plan to participate in the federal child and adult care food program to serve at-risk students who attend after-school programming and in obtaining federal, state and private funds to pay for this program. Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, a school administrative unit with at least one public school in which at least 50% of students qualified for a free or reduced-price lunch during the preceding school year shall participate in the federal child and adult care food program in accordance with 42 United States Code, Section 1766 during the school year, subject to the provisions of this paragraph.
Notwithstanding other provisions of this paragraph, a school administrative unit that is required to operate a federal child and adult care food program may choose not to operate such a program if it determines by a vote of the governing body of the school administrative unit after notice and a public hearing that operating such a program would be financially or logistically impracticable.
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 129th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.