Revision: April 30, 2026, 12:14 p.m.
Rep. Luneau, Merr. 9
Rep. Damon, Sull. 8
April 30, 2026
2026-1762h
12/09
Amendment to SB 531-FN
Amend the title of the bill by replacing it with the following:
AN ACT extending programs which may qualify as career and technical education programs and requiring the reporting of student food service debt by school districts and public chartered schools to the department of education.
Amend the bill by replacing all after the enacting clause with the following:
1 Designation of Regional Centers and Program. Amend RSA 188-E:1 to read as follows:
188-E:1 Designation of Regional Centers and Programs. The commissioner, department of education, is hereby authorized and directed to designate high schools, and public academies as defined in RSA 194:23, II, offering career and technical education programs as career and technical education centers. In instances where it is educationally and economically feasible to do so, the commissioner may designate individual career and technical education programs in other than the career and technical education centers as regional programs. This may include programs located on university system of New Hampshire and community college system of New Hampshire (CCSNH) campuses and programs jointly established by career and technical education centers and the university system of New Hampshire or CCSNH. An out-of-state school or program may be designated, when it is in the best interest of the state, as a part of the New Hampshire regional career and technical education plan.
2 Food and Nutrition Programs; School Lunch Meal Payments; Debt Reporting Requirement Added. Amend RSA 189:11-a, VIII to read as follows:
VIII.(a) A school lunch meal payment policy which is implemented by a school board either before or after the effective date of this section shall ensure that all students have access to a healthy school lunch, that the school district will make every reasonable effort to inform parents of the policy, and that no student will be subject to different treatment from the standard school lunch meal or school cafeteria procedures. The department of education or the state board of education, upon request of the local school board, may provide communication assistance to school districts and parents of school children regarding the school lunch meal payment policy.
(b) Each school district and chartered public school shall maintain accurate annual records of all student food service debt accrued within the district or chartered public school and shall submit such records to the department of education in the manner and form prescribed by the department. Records shall include:
(1) Aggregate student food service debt arising solely from meals provided to students through the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service program or meals served pursuant to this section.
(2) Aggregate student food service debt resulting from a la carte purchases, snacks, beverages, or any other non-meal items.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
2026-1762h
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill:
I. Extends programming on university system of New Hampshire and community college system of New Hampshire campuses to qualify as career and technical education programs as determined by the commissioner of the department of education.
II. Requires school districts and public chartered schools to maintain accurate annual records of student food service debt and to submit such records to the department of education.