New Jersey § 18a:33-14

§ 18a:33-14.

a. Not more than 180 days after the effective date of P.L.2023, c. 336 ( C.18A:33-14.2 et al.), 1 the Office of the Food Security Advocate, established pursuant to P.L.2021, c. 242 ( C.52:27J-1 et seq. ), shall establish a Working Group on School Food Security to identify and develop

best practices, policies, and plans, and to take other appropriate action, to promote

and facilitate the effective functioning of the State's school meals programs and

the expanded provision, thereunder, of free school meals to students in the State. b. Within one year after its formation pursuant to subsection a. of this section,

and on a regular basis thereafter as deemed by the food security advocate to be appropriate,

the Working Group on School Food Security shall: (1) conduct a study on school food security issues, in accordance with the provisions

of subsection c. of this section, and recommend further State-level action to facilitate

the provision of free school meals to enhanced numbers or categories of students in

the State; and (2) develop and publish a plan to facilitate and promote the adoption, by the United

States Congress and President, of federal legislation authorizing the nationwide provision

of free school meals to all students in the country, and providing federal reimbursement

for all such meals served by schools and school districts in the states. c. When conducting a school food security study, pursuant to subsection b. of this

section, the working group shall be required to determine and identify: (1) the expected annual costs to be expended, by each participating school district

and nonpublic school in the State, in providing free school meals to eligible students

in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, including the amount by which such

costs are expected to increase year-over-year; (2) best practices to ensure the effective provision of school meals to students in

the State, including, but not limited to, best practices to facilitate the non-stigmatizing

provision of free school meals to all eligible students in the State, best practices

to reduce food waste in schools, best practices to improve and facilitate the subsidized

school meals application and certification processes that are used to certify students

for free meals; and best practices for incentivizing the completion of subsidized

school meals applications by parents and guardians of students in the State; (3) policies and practices that have been employed by other states and jurisdictions

to facilitate and enhance student access to free school meals in those other jurisdictions,

and the extent to which such policies and practices have been successful in achieving

their stated goals; and (4) whether, and the extent to which, it would be feasible, beneficial, and fiscally

responsible for the Legislature to take action to further expand student eligibility

for free school meals under this chapter, following the effective date of P.L.2023, c. 336 ( C.18A:33-14.2 et al.), and whether, and the extent to which, such expansion of the State's free

school meals programs would best be effectuated on an immediate basis, by extending

eligibility to all students in the State, or on a phased-in basis, by extending eligibility

to gradually increasing numbers and types of students in the State. d. Not more than 60 days after the working group completes a school food security

study, pursuant to subsection b. of this section, the working group shall submit,

to the Secretary of Agriculture, the Commissioner of Education, the Governor, and,

pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c. 164 ( C.52:14-19.1 ), the Legislature, a written report of its findings and recommendations from the

study, including, at a minimum, its recommendations regarding the appropriate executive,

legislative, and other actions, if any, that should be undertaken in the State to

ensure the ongoing successful operation of the State's school meals programs, to facilitate

the cost-effective provision of free school meals to students who are categorically

eligible or income-eligible therefore, as provided by this chapter, and to further

expand the categories of students who are eligible for such free school meals under

State law. 1

L.2023, c. 336, eff. Jan. 16, 2024.