Amends TCA Title 49.

Subject to the appropriation of funds by the general assembly, this bill creates a hunger-free campus grant program, administered by the Tennessee higher education commission, to provide grants to higher education institutions to be used to address hunger on the institutions' campuses. As used in this bill, a "higher education institution" means (i) an institution operated by the board of trustees of the University of Tennessee; the board of regents of the state university and community college system; or a local governing board of trustees of a state university; or (ii) a private postsecondary institution accredited by a regional accrediting association that has its primary campus domiciled in this state.<br /> <br /> FUND<br /> <br /> This bill creates a separate fund within the general fund to be known as the "hunger-free campus grant fund." The fund is composed of funds specifically appropriated by the general assembly for the grant fund; and gifts, grants, and other donations received for the fund.<br /> <br /> ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANT<br /> <br /> In order to be eligible for a hunger-free campus grant, a higher education institution must:<br /> <br /> (1) Submit an application to the commission on a form prescribed by the commission, along with any supporting documentation required by the commission;<br /> <br /> (2) Have or establish a physical food pantry that is accessible to students; or partner with a food pantry that is accessible to students and located in the same community as the higher education institution; and<br /> <br /> (3) Establish a hunger task force that includes at least two members of the institution's student body to examine the needs and best practices of food insecurity on campus.<br /> <br /> This bill authorizes the commission to develop and implement additional policies and procedures for the approval of grant applications. A higher education institution that is awarded a hunger-free campus grant must use grant proceeds to (i) develop a student meal credit donation program; or allocate funding for a meal voucher program for students; (ii) provide financial assistance to a food pantry described in (2) above; and (iii) raise awareness of community and campus resources related to food insecurity.<br /> <br /> ANNUAL REPORT<br /> <br /> This bill requires a higher education institution that is awarded a hunger-free campus grant to, for each year for which the institution receives a hunger-free campus grant, study and submit a report to the education committee of the senate and the education administration committee of the house of representatives on the institution's efforts to address food insecurity, the demographics of the institution's food-insecure students, the best practices being implemented by the institution to address campus hunger, and other data related to campus hunger at the institution.<br />