Bill > S939

This bill establishes a hunger-free campus grant program managed by the department of higher education to address student food insecurity at public higher education institutions. The program will provide grants to colleges, including municipally administered and minority-serving institutions, to support students in completing their education and enhancing the commonwealth's workforce. The bill authorizes hiring a program director who will develop guidelines for grant allocation, which may include criteria such as campus staff dedicated to food insecurity, hunger awareness programs, acceptance of nutrition benefits by campus meal vendors, meal credit sharing programs, and income-based standards. Grant recipients will be required to report on their activities, and the department must submit an annual report to the governor and legislative committees detailing the program's implementation, participating institutions, student engagement, and outcomes. Additionally, the bill creates a Hunger-Free Campus Trust Fund that can receive appropriations, gifts, and donations, with funds dedicated to grant distribution and program administration. The commissioner of higher education must provide an annual report on the fund's financial activity, including sources of funds, expenditures, grants provided, and future projections.

Education

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S939