New York A 9556: Relates to establishing school-based food pantries in schools in the city school district of the city of New York

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A09556 Summary:

BILL NOA09556A

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SAME ASSAME AS S09565-A

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SPONSORCruz

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Add §2590-w, Ed L

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Establishes school-based food pantries in high need schools in the city school district of the city of New York.

Go to top A09556 Actions:

BILL NOA09556A

&nbsp

01/14/2026referred to education

05/20/2026amend (t) and recommit to education

05/20/2026print number 9556a

Go to topA09556 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA09556 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topA09556 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 9556--A

 IN ASSEMBLY

 January 14, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. CRUZ -- read once and referred to the Committee
 on Education -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted
 as amended and recommitted to said committee

 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing school-
 based food pantries in schools in the city school district of the city
 of New York

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 2 the "New York city school-based food pantry act".
 3 § 2. Legislative intent. The legislature hereby finds and declares
 4 that a growing number of children in New York city are living in poverty
 5 and are experiencing hunger and food insecurity. These conditions are
 6 associated with higher rates of chronic absenteeism, difficulty concen-
 7 trating in class, behavioral challenges, and lower academic performance.
 8 Research further demonstrates that children who are hungry or food inse-
 9 cure are less likely to be ready to learn, more likely to experience
 10 adverse physical and mental health outcomes, and more likely to fall
 11 behind their peers academically.
 12 The legislature therefore finds that it is a matter of overriding
 13 state concern to ensure that children in the city school district of the
 14 city of New York have reliable access to nutritious food in and around
 15 the school day, particularly in schools serving communities with the
 16 greatest economic need. School-based food pantries, operated in partner-
 17 ship with educators, parents, guardians, and community organizations,
 18 are a proven means of reducing food insecurity, stabilizing family
 19 nutrition, and supporting student learning and well-being.
 20 § 3. The education law is amended by adding a new section 2590-w to
 21 read as follows:
 22 § 2590-w. School-based food pantries in New York city schools.
 23 1. Establishment of program. (a) Subject to the availability of funds
 24 appropriated for this purpose, the chancellor shall establish and main-
 25 tain school-based food pantries in schools throughout the city district.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD14243-03-6

 A. 9556--A 2

 1 (b) School-based food pantries established pursuant to this section
 2 shall be located on the premises of a city district school and shall
 3 store and distribute nutritious food, without charge, to students
 4 enrolled in such school and their parents or persons in parental
 5 relation for consumption outside of regular school meals.
 6 (c) The chancellor shall prioritize schools serving communities with
 7 the highest levels of student economic need, poverty, and food insecuri-
 8 ty when determining which schools to establish school-based food
 9 pantries in pursuant to this section. The chancellor may use indicators
 10 such as the percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price
 11 school meals, the percentage of students who are homeless or in tempo-
 12 rary housing, and other measures of concentrated poverty for such food
 13 insecurity.
 14 2. Operation and schedule. Each school-based food pantry established
 15 pursuant to this section shall operate on the premises of the school
 16 during designated times during the regular school week, on days when
 17 school is in session, but shall not interfere with required instruc-
 18 tional time. Each school-based food pantry shall be open and available
 19 to students and their parents or persons in parental relat