Bill > HB3254

This bill establishes the Summer Feeding for All initiative to address food insecurity among students during summer and non-school days in West Virginia. The legislation requires every county public school system to conduct an annual survey to understand students' eating patterns when schools are closed, with assistance from the West Virginia Office of Child Nutrition. Each county school board must now compile and distribute information about local food resources from public, private, religious, and charitable organizations that can provide meals to children in need. The bill transforms previous optional language to mandatory requirements, mandating that county school boards not only investigate but also implement programs to facilitate food access, such as entrepreneurship initiatives, mentorship programs, and innovative feeding strategies. County school boards are now required to provide annual training opportunities, in coordination with the Office of Child Nutrition, to ensure potential feeding sites understand how to operate effectively. The legislation also directs the Office of Child Nutrition to monitor these activities and share successful program initiatives across counties. A key goal of the bill is to create a supportive mechanism that helps schools find innovative ways to reduce food insecurity for children when they are not in school, building upon previous successful initiatives like the Feed to Achieve and Shared Table programs.