Bill > SB318

This bill establishes the Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program to address student food insecurity at public higher education institutions in Virginia. The program, managed by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, is optional for institutions but provides grant opportunities for schools that meet specific criteria. To be designated a "Hunger-Free Campus" and receive funding, institutions must develop several key initiatives including a meal credit donation program, establish a free on-campus food pantry, host awareness events, provide information about food assistance programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), conduct biennial student food insecurity surveys, and create a task force to address food insecurity. The program prioritizes grants for institutions with the highest percentage of Pell Grant-eligible students and requires grant recipients to use funds supporting on-campus efforts to eliminate student food insecurity. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Council submit a report to legislative committees within two years of the program's establishment, detailing grant awards, the program's impact on reducing student food insecurity, and potential recommendations for future funding.