Bill > H4408

This bill establishes a hunger-free campus grant program designed to address student food insecurity at public higher education institutions in Massachusetts. The program, managed by the state's Department of Higher Education, will provide grants to colleges and universities to help students access food and nutrition resources. Eligible institutions include public colleges, municipal colleges, and minority-serving institutions. To receive grants, campuses must meet specific guidelines, such as having designated staff to coordinate food assistance, creating hunger awareness programs, establishing on-campus meal vendors that accept federal and state nutrition benefits, and developing student meal credit sharing programs. The bill also creates a Hunger-Free Campus Trust Fund to support the program, which can receive appropriations, gifts, and grants. The fund will be used to provide grants and cover administrative costs. Each year, the department must submit a comprehensive report to state leadership detailing the program's activities, participating institutions, student engagement levels, and outcomes. The goal is to support students in completing their post-secondary education and enhance the workforce by addressing food insecurity among college students.

Budget and Finance

Joint Committee on Higher Education (Joint)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4408