Amends TCA Title 49.

Present law requires each school board, unless a waiver is granted, to establish a school lunch program in every school under its jurisdiction, and a school breakfast program in the following schools:<br /> <br /> (1) Every school that contains K-8 in which 25 percent or more of the students participated in the school lunch program at a free or reduced price; and<br /> <br /> (2) In every school that does not contain a K-8 in which 40 percent or more of the students participated in the school lunch program at a free or reduced price. Each local education agency (LEA) operating a school breakfast program pursuant to this provision must be reimbursed by the state for any additional expenses to that agency that are incurred as a result of implementation of this law.<br /> <br /> This bill deletes the present law and substitutes, instead, the following:<br /> <br /> (1) Each local school board must establish a school lunch program and a school breakfast program that provide a free breakfast and lunch to each student enrolled in a school under the board's jurisdiction in accordance with rules promulgated under law relative to school nutrition standards.<br /> <br /> (2) The state must reimburse each LEA the cost of providing a free breakfast and lunch to each student enrolled in the LEA after all federal funds have been applied.<br /> <br /> RULES RELATIVE TO SCHOOL NUTRITION STANDARDS<br /> <br /> Current law requires the commissioner of education ("commissioner") to recommend to the state board of education rules to adopt. The commissioner must recommend rules establishing a uniform reporting system for the collection and compilation of data on the administration of the law relative to school nutrition standards, including a report on each individual school, regardless of its participation. This bill deletes the language "regardless of its participation" from the provision.<br /> <br /> Under present law, the commissioner is required to recommend rules that allow the local school board to waive the requirements for establishing a school breakfast program, for any individual school for each year that the board determines at a public meeting of the board, with notice and right to be heard, to any person who has, in writing, requested to be notified of the consideration of such waivers. This bill deletes this provision.<br /> <br /> APPLICABILITY<br /> <br /> This bill applies to the 2024-2025 school year and each school year thereafter.<br />