Bill > A01724

This bill establishes a "Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program" designed to address food insecurity among students at public higher education institutions. The program requires participating colleges to meet several specific criteria, including creating a hunger task force, designating a staff member to help students enroll in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), educating students about SNAP benefits, providing SNAP benefit options on campus, hosting hunger awareness events, maintaining a campus food pantry, developing a meal credit donation program, and conducting annual student hunger surveys. The commissioner of education will award competitive grants to institutions that meet these requirements, with priority given to schools with the highest percentage of Pell grant-eligible students. Grant recipients must provide information about how they used the funding and its outcomes. Additionally, the bill mandates that the commissioner submit a comprehensive report to state leadership within two years, detailing grant awards, student support examples, program impacts, and potential recommendations for future funding. The goal is to create sustainable solutions to address basic food needs, raise awareness of existing campus services, and build strategic partnerships to combat student food insecurity.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A1724