,,ii #aadth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #aiff ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,august #e1 #bjae ,mr4 ,boozman 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,mc,connell1 ,mr4 ,kirk1 ,mr4 ,brown1 ,mr4 ,donnelly1 and ,mr4 ,bennet7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act to require alternative options for program delivery4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,hunger ,free ,summer for ,kids ,act of #bjae4 #b4 ,alternative options for program delivery ,section #ac of the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agfa7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a71 by adding at the end the following3 7#ac7 ,alternative options for program delivery 7,a7 ,in general ,to reach children that do not have readily available access to meals provided under this section1 the ,secretary shall establish #b alternative options for program delivery1 including summer food service program meals delivered through-- 7i7 an electronic benefit card 7referred to this paragraph as an ,,ebt card7 in accordance with subparagraph 7,c72 and 7ii7 off-site consumption in accordance with subparagraph 7,d74 7,b7 ,purpose ,the ,secretary shall design and implement the alternative options described in subparagraph 7,a7 so as-- 7i7 to increase program effectiveness and efficiency2 7ii7 to improve child nutrition2 and 7iii7 to reduce food insecurity among children4 7,c7 ,electronic benefit transfer card 7i7 ,in general ,as an alternative to the meals provided by eligible service institutions and private nonprofit organizations at congregate feeding sites1 the ,secretary shall establish an option for ,states1 beginning in summer #bjah1 to issue ,,ebt cards to children eligible to participate in the program4 7ii7 ,amount 7,i7 ,in general ,subject to subclause 7,,iii71 the value of an ,,ebt card under this subparagraph shall be #cj1 less administrative expenses1 for each child4 7,,ii7 ,annual limitation ,no child may receive more than #ajj under this subparagraph in any #ab-month period4 7,,iii7 ,adjustment ,each ,january #a1 the ,secretary shall adjust the value described in subclause 7,i7 by the same percentage as the adjustment made under subsection 7b77#a77;,b74 7iii7 ,timing of issuance ,,ebt cards under this subparagraph may be used only when school is out of session for the summer period1 as defined by the ,secretary4 7iv7 ,use of benefits 7,i7 ,in general ,an ,,ebt card issued under this subparagraph may be used only for the purchase of food from retail stores approved for participation in the special supplemental nutrition program for women1 infants1 and children established by section #ag of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aghf74 7,,ii7 ,benefit redemption ,a retail store shall redeem ,,ebt card benefits under this subparagraph in the same manner as benefit redemption under the special supplemental nutrition program described in subclause 7,i74 7v7 ,administration ,in administering the alternative option described in clause 7i71 the ,secretary shall ensure that-- 7,i7 ,,ebt cards are issued only to children residing-- 7aa7 in a rural area1 as defined by the ,secretary2 or 7bb7 outside an area in which poor economic conditions exist2 7,,ii7 ,,ebt cards are not issued in an area in which congregate feeding sites are operating until the date on which the ,secretary promulgates a regulation to prevent duplication in benefits received2 7,,iii7 not more than #b4e percent of the amount of benefits described in clause 7ii77,i7 is used for administrative expenses2 7,,iv7 ,,ebt cards are issued to children only through an application process developed by the ,secretary2 and 7,v7 ,,ebt cards are issued only to children who have been determined to be eligible for free or reduced price school meals under this ,act and the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agga et seq474 7,d7 ,off-site consumption 7i7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish an option for service institutions1 beginning in summer #bjah1 to provide summer food service program meals for children eligible to participate in the program to consume off-site4 7ii7 ,availability ,the option described in clause 7i7 shall be available to children only when at least #a of the following conditions is present3 7,i7 ,the child lives in a rural area1 as defined by the ,secretary4 7,,ii7 ,the child lives outside an area in which poor economic conditions exist4 7,,iii7 ,the program is available to the child at a congregate feeding site but-- 7aa7 the site is closed due to extreme weather conditions2 7bb7 violence or other public safety concerns in the area prevent the child from traveling safely to the site2 7cc7 the site is only open #d or fewer days a week2 or 7dd7 the site only provides #a meal per day4 7iii7 ,administration ,in administering the alternative option described in clause 7i71 the ,secretary shall ensure that-- 7,i7 when providing meals under the condition described in clause 7ii77,,iii77cc71 the number of meals served to each child in a single meal service is limited to #b meals2 and 7,,ii7 any meal served meets the same standards for safety and quality as a meal served at a congregate feeding site4 7,e7 ,scope ,in implementing the alternative options described in subparagraph 7,a71 the ,secretary shall-- 7i7 permit ,states to operate either alternative option but prohibit ,states from operating both alternative delivery options simultaneously in the same area2 and 7ii7 permit ,states to implement either alternative option in some or all eligible areas in a ,state4 7,f7 ,program integrity ,not later than ,october #a1 #bjag1 the ,secretary shall promulgate regulations1 with an opportunity for notice and comment1 to ensure the integrity of the #b alternative options for program delivery described in this paragraph4 2 and 7#b7 in subsection 7n7-- 7,a7 by striking and 7#f7 and inserting 7#f72 and 7,b7 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and 7#g7 the plans of the ,state for using #a or both of the alternative options for program delivery described in subsection 7a77#ac744