Bill > HF4800

This bill modifies the state-paid free school lunch program by limiting eligibility to families with incomes at or below 500 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, which are established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services based on family size. It also introduces an "enhanced student eligibility standard" for families with incomes between 185 and 500 percent of these guidelines, meaning students in this income bracket will receive "enhanced student meals." The bill renames the "free school meals program" to the "enhanced school meals program" and clarifies that schools must provide eligible students with up to two federally reimbursable meals per school day at no cost, with a maximum of one free breakfast and one free lunch. Additionally, schools participating in the national school lunch program can use other school funds to cover costs for meals for students whose families exceed the enhanced eligibility standard. The bill also establishes a new "school wellness and resiliency aid" to fund licensed school counselors, psychologists, and substance use disorder counselors, as well as on-site mental health professionals and staff training for mental health needs, and increases funding for school-linked behavioral health grants to help identify and diagnose mental health conditions and substance use disorders in students.