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Bill > H1368


MA H1368

Establishing the Massachusetts hunger-free campus initiative


summary

Introduced
03/29/2021
In Committee
03/29/2021
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
12/31/2022

Introduced Session

192nd General Court

Bill Summary

For legislation to establish the hunger-free campus initiative to address college student food insecurity and hunger on public higher education campuses. Higher Education.

AI Summary

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.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (37)

Mindy Domb (D)* Andy Vargas (D)* Christine Barber (D),  Natalie Blais (D),  Michael Brady (D),  Dan Carey (D),  Harriette Chandler (D),  Michelle Ciccolo (D),  Jo Comerford (D),  Marcos Devers (D),  Sal DiDomenico (D),  Michelle DuBois (D),  Pat Duffy (D),  Jamie Eldridge (D),  Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D),  Sean Garballey (D),  Ken Gordon (D),  Jim Hawkins (D),  Natalie Higgins (D),  Bradford Hill (R),  Vanna Howard (D),  Sally Kerans (D),  Kay Khan (D),  Mike Kushmerek (D),  Jay Livingstone (D),  Elizabeth Malia (D),  Paul Mark (D),  Christina Minicucci (D),  Tram Nguyen (D),  Becca Rausch (D),  Lindsay Sabadosa (D),  Tom Stanley (D),  Paul Tucker (D),  Erika Uyterhoeven (D),  Tommy Vitolo (D),  Susannah Whipps (I),  Jon Zlotnik (D), 

Last Action

Accompanied a new draft, see H4697 (on 04/19/2022)

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