Amends TCA Title 49.

This bill amends language pertaining to the rules promulgated under the nutritional breakfast and lunch programs for elementary and secondary education. Present law provides that each school board must establish both a school breakfast and a school lunch program, unless a waiver is granted and only to the extent federal funds are available for free or reduced price meals. Further, present law provides that each LEA operating a school breakfast program must be reimbursed by the state for any additional expenses to that agency that are incurred as a result of implementation, and that the school breakfast program automatically terminates if federal funding for such program ceases.<br /> <br /> FREE MEALS<br /> <br /> Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year and continuing with each school year thereafter, this bill requires the programs described above to provide those meals for free to each student enrolled in a school under the board's jurisdiction, according to rules recommended by the commissioner of education and adopted by the state board of education. This bill provides that the state must reimburse each LEA the cost of each free meal served to students after all federal funds available pursuant to the national school lunch program have been applied.<br /> <br /> REMOVAL OF WAIVER<br /> <br /> This bill removes the present law that requires the commissioner to recommend, and the state board to adopt, rules allowing a local school board to waive the requirement that the local school board establish a school breakfast program under certain circumstances.<br /> <br /> FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT<br /> <br /> This bill also requires the commissioner to recommend, and the state board to adopt, rules that require LEAs to maximize federal funding available to defray the cost of school breakfast and lunch programs established by ensuring that all eligible students are enrolled in the national school lunch program, the federal school breakfast program, or any other federal program; and that require all eligible LEAs to apply to participate in the community eligibility provision under the national school lunch program pursuant to federal special assistance funds.<br /> <br /> WAIVER OF FEES FOR STUDENTS<br /> <br /> Present law requires LEAs to establish, pursuant to rules promulgated by the state board, a process by which to waive all school fees for students who receive free or reduced price school lunches. This bill, instead, requires LEAs to establish, pursuant to rules promulgated by the state board, a process to waive all school fees for students who meet the eligibility requirements for free or reduced price lunch as determined pursuant to federal school lunch program requirements.<br />