Bill > S2535

This bill establishes a Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program managed by the state's department of higher education to address student food insecurity. The program will provide grants to public higher education institutions, municipally administered colleges, and minority-serving institutions to help combat student hunger. Institutions can receive grants by meeting specific guidelines, such as designating campus staff to interface with the department, creating hunger awareness programs, establishing on-campus meal vendors that accept nutrition benefits, developing student meal credit sharing programs, and meeting income-based standards. The department will prioritize regional equity and distribution across different types of higher education institutions when awarding grants. A dedicated Hunger-Free Campus Trust Fund will be created to support the program, which can receive public and private funding. The program will be overseen by a director who will develop procedures, conduct surveys, and provide technical assistance. Annually, the department must submit a comprehensive report to state leadership detailing grant recipients, program activities, student engagement, and the program's impact on reducing food insecurity. Private funding sources will be reviewed to ensure they do not impose conditions that could harm the program's objectives. The bill aims to provide a systematic approach to addressing food insecurity among college students in the state.

Budget and Finance

Joint Committee on Higher Education (Joint)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S2535