What This Bill Does
This bill amends a federal law that oversees school lunch programs. It changes how schools qualify for extra money to serve free meals to more students in their communities.
Who It Affects
Local educational agencies (school districts) that participate in the National School Lunch Program.
Key Provisions
• Schools can use a multiplier of 2.5 when calculating who qualifies for free meals through community eligibility (Sec. 2(a))
• The threshold for community eligibility is set at no more than 25 percent (Sec. 2(b))
• These changes apply to school years that start on or after July 1, 2023 (Sec. 2(c))
What Changes
The multiplier increases from its previous amount to 2.5, and the threshold decreases to 25 percent or lower. These changes make it easier for schools to qualify for special assistance payments to provide free meals to students in their communities starting in school year 2023-2024.
Important Definitions
Multiplier: A number used to calculate how many students qualify for free meals based on certain eligibility factors. Threshold: The maximum percentage level that determines whether a school can receive special assistance payments.
Effective Date
July 1, 2023
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 2567
To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act with respect
to expanding community eligibility, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 10, 2023
Mr. MCGARVEY (for himself, Ms. BARRAGA´N, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mr. EVANS,
Mr. HUFFMAN, Mr. KILMER, Mrs. MCBATH, Mr. MOULTON, Mr. PAYNE,
Ms. PETTERSEN, Ms. STEVENS, Mr. SWALWELL, Mr. TONKO, Ms.
VELA´ZQUEZ, and Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce
A BILL
To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch
Act with respect to expanding community eligibility, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘School Meals Expan-
4
sion Act’’.
5
VerDate Sep 11 2014
02:55 Apr 15, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2567.IH
H2567
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2
•HR 2567 IH
SEC. 2. EXPANDING COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY.
1
(a) MULTIPLIER.—Clause (vii) of section 11(a)(1)(F)
2
of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42
3
U.S.C. 1759a(a)(1)(F)) is amended to read as follows:
4
‘‘(vii) MULTIPLIER.—For each school
5
year beginning on or after July 1, 2023,
6
the Secretary shall use a multiplier of
7
2.5.’’.
8
(b)
THRESHOLD.—Clause
(viii)
of
section
9
11(a)(1)(F) of the Richard B. Russell National School
10
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1759a(a)(1)(F)) is amended to read
11
as follows:
12
‘‘(viii) THRESHOLD.—For each school
13
year beginning on or after July 1, 2023,
14
the threshold shall be not more than 25
15
percent.’’.
16
(c) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made by this
17
section shall apply to a local educational agency with re-
18
spect to a school year beginning on or after July 1, 2023,
19
for which such local educational agency elects to receive
20
special assistance payments under subparagraph (F) of
21
section 11(a)(1) of the Richard B. Russell National School
22
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1759a(a)(1)).
23
Æ
VerDate Sep 11 2014
02:55 Apr 15, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2567.IH
H2567
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS