Revision: Jan. 11, 2023, 11:24 a.m.
HB 572-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2023 SESSION
23-0373
10/04
HOUSE BILL 572-FN
AN ACT relative to eligibility for free school meals.
SPONSORS: Rep. Hall, Merr. 9; Rep. Cascadden, Coos 5; Rep. Ellison, Merr. 28; Rep. M. Murray, Hills. 37; Rep. Burroughs, Carr. 2; Rep. Woodcock, Carr. 1; Rep. Rombeau, Hills. 2; Rep. Myler, Merr. 9; Rep. Cornell, Hills. 22; Rep. Tanner, Sull. 5
COMMITTEE: Education
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ANALYSIS
This bill increases the eligibility for free school meals to household incomes up to 300 percent of federal poverty guidelines.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
23-0373
10/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three
AN ACT relative to eligibility for free school meals.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Schools; Food and Nutrition Programs; School Lunch Eligibility. Amend RSA 189:11-a, I to read as follows:
I. Each school board shall make at least one meal available during school hours to every pupil under its jurisdiction. Such meals shall be served without cost to any child whose annual household income is less than or equal to 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines as updated annually in the Federal Register by the United States Department of Health and Human Services under 42 U.S.C. section 9902(2), or at a reduced cost to any child who meets federal income eligibility guidelines. The state board of education shall ensure compliance with this section and shall establish minimum nutritional standards for such meals as well as income guidelines set for the family size used in determining eligibility for free and reduced price meals. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the operation of both a breakfast and lunch program in the same school.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
23-0373
1/9/23
HB 572-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to eligibility for free school meals.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None
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| Estimated Increase / (Decrease) | |||
STATE: | FY 2023 | FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 |
Appropriation | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase |
Funding Source: | [ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ ] Other | |||
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LOCAL: |
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Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase |
METHODOLOGY:
This bill requires each school board make at least one meal available without cost to a child that qualifies based on a household income less than or equal to 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The Department of Education states this bill would increase costs at the local level for providing an increased number of meals at no cost and at the state level for staffing and administration of the program as there would need to be a new process for eligibility determinations, as the current process is under USDA and are done at the local level. All costs are indeterminable at this time as it would vary across districts and the Department does not have an estimate for eligible children.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Education