2018 -- H 8059

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LC005381

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - FEDERAL AID

     Introduced By: Representatives Lancia, Shanley, Vella-Wilkinson, Mendonca, and
Nardolillo

     Date Introduced: April 05, 2018

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-8 of the General Laws entitled "Federal Aid [See Title 16

Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended by adding thereto

the following section:

     16-8-10.2. Prohibition of stigmatization of children unable to pay for meals.

     (a) For the purposes of this section, the term "covered child" means a child who:

     (1) Is a student at a school that participates in:

     (i) The school lunch program established under federal law; or

     (ii) The school breakfast program established by section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of

1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773); and

     (2)(i) Does not have funds to pay for a lunch or breakfast at the school; or

     (ii) Has outstanding credit that was extended by a school food authority for a lunch or

breakfast at the school.

     (b) Requirements of school food authorities.

     (1) A school food authority shall not permit:

     (i) The public identification or stigmatization of a covered child, such as by requiring the

covered child to wear a wristband or display a hand stamp to identify the covered child as a

covered child; or

     (ii) Any requirement that a covered child, because of the status of the covered child as a

covered child.

     (A) Perform chores or any other activity that is not required of students generally; or

     (B) Dispose of a lunch or breakfast after it has been served to the covered child.

     (c) Communications.

     (1) Subject to subsection (c)(2) of this section, a school food authority shall require that

any communication relating to an outstanding credit described in subsection (a)(2)(ii) of this

section, of a covered child shall be directed:

     (i) To a parent or guardian of the covered child; and

     (ii) Not to the covered child.

     (2) A school food authority may permit a requirement that a covered child deliver a letter

addressed to a parent or guardian of the covered child that contains a communication described in

subsection (c)(1) of this section, subject to the condition that the letter shall not be distributed to

the covered child in a manner that stigmatizes the covered child.

     (d) A school food authority that participates in the school lunch program or the school

breakfast program:

     (1) Shall provide to a child who requests a lunch or breakfast, regardless of whether the

child:

     (i) Has money to pay for the lunch or breakfast; or

     (ii) Owes money for a lunch or breakfast;

     (2) Shall not provide to a child who qualifies for a free or reduced price lunch or

breakfast an alternate meal that is not provided to students generally; and

     (3) Should explore innovative ways to use technology to improve and coordinate

communications with parents and guardians with respect to functions such as:

     (i) Prepayment for meals;

     (ii) Checking balances for school meals;

     (iii) Adding funds to accounts for school meals;

     (iv) Addressing outstanding debt for school meals; and

     (v) Sending automatic emails when an account balance is low.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - FEDERAL AID

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     This act would prohibit the stigmatization (lunch-shaming) of children unable to pay for

meals served as part of the breakfast or lunch program offered at elementary and secondary

schools.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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