(a) Any local or regional board of education may establish and operate a school lunch program for public school children, may operate lunch services for its employees, may establish and operate a school breakfast program, as provided under federal laws governing said programs, or may establish and operate such other child feeding programs as it deems necessary. Charges for such lunches, breakfasts or other such feeding may be fixed by such boards and shall not exceed the cost of food, wages and other expenses directly incurred in providing such services. When such services are offered, a board shall provide free lunches, breakfasts or other such feeding to children whose economic needs require such action under the standards promulgated by said federal laws. Such board is authorized to purchase equipment and supplies that are necessary, to employ the necessary personnel, to utilize the services of volunteers and to receive and expend any funds and receive and use any equipment and supplies which may become available to carry out the provisions of this section. Any town board of education may vote to designate any volunteer organization within the town to provide a school lunch program, school breakfast program or other child feeding program in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(b) For the school year commencing July 1, 2021, and each school year thereafter, a local or regional board of education shall include in any policy or procedure for the collection of unpaid charges for school lunches, breakfasts or other such feeding applicable to employees and third-party vendors of such school lunches, breakfasts or such feeding (1) a prohibition on publicly identifying or shaming a child for any such unpaid charges, including, but not limited to, delaying or refusing to serve a meal to such child, designating a specific meal option for such child or otherwise taking any disciplinary action against such child, (2) a declaration of the right for any child to purchase a meal, which meal may exclude any a la carte items or be limited to one meal for any school lunch, breakfast or other such feeding, and (3) a procedure for communicating with the parent or legal guardian of a child for the purpose of collecting such unpaid charges. Such communication shall include, but not be limited to, (A) information regarding local food pantries, (B) applications for the school district's program for free or reduced priced meals and for the supplemental nutrition assistance program administered by the Department of Social Services, and (C) a link to the Internet web site maintained by the town for such school district listing any community services available to the residents of such town. In the event the unpaid charges for school lunches, breakfasts or other such feeding due from any parent or legal guardian are equal to or more than the cost of thirty meals, the local or regional board of education shall refer such parent or legal guardian to the local homeless education liaison designated by such board, pursuant to Subtitle B of Title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, 42 USC 11431 et seq., as amended from time to time.
(c) A local or regional board of education may accept gifts, donations or grants from any public or private sources for the purpose of paying off any unpaid charges for school lunches, breakfasts or other such feeding.
(1949 Rev., S. 1476; 1953, S. 945d; 1971, P.A. 702, S. 1; P.A. 78-218, S. 139; P.A. 81-208, S. 1; 81-472, S. 123, 159; P.A. 21-46, S. 20.)
History: 1971 act revised section to include references to National School Lunch Act and breakfast programs as provided in Federal Child Nutrition Act and required that if school district elects to offer lunch and/or breakfast programs it must provide free meals to children “whose economic needs require such action”; P.A. 78-218 substituted “Any local or regional board of education” for “The board of education of any school district”; P.A. 81-208 replaced specific references to National School Lunch Act and Federal Child Nutrition Act with general reference to applicable federal laws; P.A. 81-472 made technical changes; P.A. 21-46 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a), added Subsec. (b) re requirements for policies or procedures for collection of unpaid charges for school lunches, breakfasts or other such feeding and referral of parents or guardians to local homeless education liaison, and added Subsec. (c) re acceptance of gifts, donations or grants, effective July 1, 2021.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 10 - Education and Culture
Chapter 169 - School Health and Sanitation
Section 10-203. - Compliance with public health statutes and regulations.
Section 10-203b. - Health Services Program Information Survey.
Section 10-203c. - Guidelines re comprehensive school counseling program.
Section 10-204. - Vaccination.
Section 10-204a. - Required immunizations. Temporary waiver.
Section 10-204b. - Rubella immunization.
Section 10-204c. - Immunity from liability.
Section 10-205. - Appointment of school medical advisors.
Section 10-206. - Health assessments.
Section 10-206a. - Free health assessments.
Section 10-206b. - Tests for lead levels in Head Start programs.
Section 10-206c. - Annual report on whether pupil has health insurance.
Section 10-206d. - Oral health assessments.
Section 10-207. - Duties of medical advisors.
Section 10-208. - Exemption from examination or treatment.
Section 10-208a. - Physical activity of student restricted; boards to honor notice.
Section 10-209. - Records not to be public. Provision of reports to schools.
Section 10-210. - Notice of disease to be given parent or guardian.
Section 10-211. - Notice to state board.
Section 10-211a. - Peer-to-peer mental health support program; development; training.
Section 10-211d. - Family care coordinator.
Section 10-211e. - Annual notice re Get Outside and Play for Children's Mental Health Day.
Section 10-212f. - School Nurse Advisory Council. Reports.
Section 10-212h. - Self-application of sunscreen by students.
Section 10-212k. - Provision of free menstrual products to students in grades three to twelve.
Section 10-212l. - Mental health plan for student athletes; development.
Section 10-212m. - Mental health plan for student athletes; implementation.
Section 10-213. - Dental hygienists.
Section 10-214a. - Eye-protective devices.
Section 10-214b. - Compliance report by local or regional board of education.
Section 10-215a. - Nonpublic school and nonprofit agency participation in feeding programs.
Section 10-215b. - Duties of State Board of Education re feeding programs.
Section 10-215c. - Annual report.
Section 10-215e. - Nutrition standards for food that is not part of lunch or breakfast program.
Section 10-215f. - Certification that food meets nutrition standards.
Section 10-215g. - In-classroom school breakfast pilot program.
Section 10-215h. - Child nutrition outreach program.
Section 10-215i. - Information and notice re supplemental nutrition assistance program.
Section 10-215k. - Submission of report re nonimplementation of Community Eligibility Provision.
Section 10-215l. - CT Grown for CT Kids Grant Program.
Section 10-216. - Payment of expenses.
Section 10-217b. - Appropriation.
Section 10-217c. - Definitions.
Section 10-217d. - Warning labels.
Section 10-217e. - Purchase of art or craft materials by local or regional school districts.
Section 10-217g. - Exemptions.
Section 10-217h. - Connecticut School Health Survey; administration.
Section 10-217j. - Connecticut School Health Survey; policy and forms re notice.