Bill > H1368

This bill establishes the Massachusetts Hunger-Free Campus Initiative to address college student food insecurity and hunger across all public higher education campuses, and potentially certain not-for-profit campuses that disproportionately serve low-income students. The key provisions include: 1. The Department of Higher Education (DHE) will create an office of capacity building services to provide technical assistance to public higher education campuses to help them address student food insecurity and hunger, and to administer a Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program. 2. Campuses can earn a "Hunger-Free Campus" designation by implementing five anti-hunger activities, such as designating a Hunger-Free Campus Coordinator, establishing a Hunger-Free Campus Task Force, notifying students of their potential eligibility for SNAP and WIC benefits, conducting an annual hunger awareness activity, and providing access to on-campus or local food distribution. 3. Campuses with the Hunger-Free Campus designation can apply for grants to implement initiatives such as a student meal credit sharing program, a campus basic needs emergency fund, the designation of staff to assist food insecure students, a campus-wide survey on food insecurity, becoming an EBT vendor under the SNAP Restaurant Meal Program, and establishing an on-campus food pantry. 4. The bill establishes a Hunger-Free Campus Program and Grant Fund, with an initial $1 million transfer from the General Fund, to support the program and grant activities. 5. The DHE is required to submit an annual report on the Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program, including the participating institutions, their activities, student engagement, and the program's impact on reducing food insecurity.

Education

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H1368