Bill Text: TX SB1866 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to an award program to recognize school nutrition program excellence.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-25 - Referred to Agriculture, Water, & Rural Affairs [SB1866 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-SB1866-Introduced.html
 
 
  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.
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