Pennsylvania HB 180: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in pupils and attendance, further providing for Nonprofit School Food Program, repealing provisions relating to school lunch and breakfast reimbursement and establishing the Universal School Meal Program and the Universal School Meal Fund; and making appropriations.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1796
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 180
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY KINKEAD, KHAN, DAVIDSON, ISAACSON, WAXMAN,
SANCHEZ, PROBST, McNEILL, GUENST, BURGOS, HOWARD, CARROLL,
MADDEN, BRENNAN, D. MILLER, HOHENSTEIN, PIELLI, DEASY,
FIEDLER, DOUGHERTY, HANBIDGE, HILL-EVANS, MERSKI, OTTEN,
RABB, HADDOCK, MAYES, BOYD, CURRY, CERRATO, PARKER, RIVERA,
D. WILLIAMS, WARREN, INGLIS, STEELE AND SCOTT, JUNE 2, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JUNE 2, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in pupils and attendance, further
providing for Nonprofit School Food Program, repealing
provisions relating to school lunch and breakfast
reimbursement and establishing the Universal School Meal
Program and the Universal School Meal Fund; and making
appropriations.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1337(a), (c) and (d) of the act of March
10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of
1949, are amended to read:
Section 1337. Nonprofit School Food Program.--(a)
Definitions. For the purpose of this section[--
"school]:
"School food program" means a program under which food
served by any school on a nonprofit basis to children in
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attendance, including any such program under which a school
receives assistance out of funds appropriated by the Congress of
the United States.
"School meal" means a meal that meets requirements
established under 7 CFR Pt. 210 (relating to national school
lunch program) and/or 7 CFR Pt. 220 (relating to school
breakfast program).
* * *
(c) Administration of Program. The Department of Education
may enter into such agreements with any agency of the Federal
Government, with any board of school directors, or with any
other agency or person prescribe such regulations, employ such
personnel, and take such other action as it may deem necessary
to provide for the establishment, maintenance, operation and
expansion of any school food program, and to direct the
disbursement of Federal and State funds in accordance with any
applicable provisions of Federal or State law. The Department of
Education may give technical advice and assistance to any board
of school directors in connection with the establishment and
operation of any school food program, and may assist in training
personnel engaged in the operation of such program. [The
Department of Education, and any board of school directors, may
accept any gift for use in connection with any school food
program.]
(d) Boards of School Directors.
(1) Pursuant to any power of boards of school directors to
operate or provide for the operation of school food programs in
schools under their jurisdiction, boards of school directors may
use therefore funds disbursed to them under the provisions of
this section, [gifts] and other funds, received from sale of
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school food under such programs.
(2) [(i) Pursuant to subclause (ii), regardless] Regardless
of whether a student has money to pay for a school meal or owes
money for school meals, each board of school directors shall
establish a requirement for schools under its jurisdiction to
provide a school food program meal to a student who requests
one, unless the student's parent or guardian has specifically
provided written directive to the school to withhold a school
meal.
[(ii) If a student is not eligible for participation in the
school food program and owes greater than seventy-five dollars
($75) in a school year for school meals, a school may provide
the student with alternative meals instead of school food
program meals until the student's unpaid balance for school
meals is paid or a payment plan has been established with the
school to reduce the unpaid balance.]
(3) Each board of school directors shall require schools
under its jurisdiction to comply with the following when a
student owes money for five or more school meals:
(i) The school shall make at least two attempts to reach the
student's parent or guardian and have the parent or guardian
apply for participation in the school food program.
(ii) The school shall offer assistance with applying for
participation in the school food program.
(iii) The school shall provide the parent or guardian with
information on resources for applying for social service
assistance programs.
(4) Each board of school directors shall[:
(i) Require] require schools under its jurisdiction to
direct communications regarding money owed by a student for
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school meals to the student's parent o