,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bgeb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,october #cj1 #bjai,mr4 ,casey 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 improve program requirements1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,school ,hunger ,elimination ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,mandatory direct certification ,section #i7;b77#e7 of the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ageh7;b77#e77 is amended-- 7#a7 in the paragraph heading1 by striking ,discretionary certification and inserting ,direct certification of additional low-income children2 and 7#b7 in the matter preceding subparagraph 7,a71 by striking may and inserting shall4 #c4 ,retroactive reimbursement ,section #i7;b77#i7 of the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ageh7;b77#i77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7,d7 ,retroactive reimbursement 7i7 ,definitions ,in this subparagraph3 7,i7 ,change in eligibility ,the term change in eligibility means1 with respect to eligibility for the school lunch program under this ,act-- 7aa7 a change from eligibility for reduced price meals to eligibility for free meals2 and 7bb7 a change from noneligibility to eligibility for free or reduced price meals4 7,,ii7 ,meal claim ,the term meal claim means any documentation provided by a school food authority to a ,state agency in order to receive reimbursement under this ,act for the cost of a meal served to a child by the school food authority4 7,,iii7 ,previously submitted ,the term previously submitted1 with respect to a meal claim1 means a meal claim submitted on or after the retroactive date4 7,,iv7 ,retroactive date ,the term retroactive date means the first day of the current school year4 7ii7 ,retroactivity 7,i7 ,submission of meal claims ,a local educational agency shall-- 7aa7 revise and resubmit a previously submitted meal claim to reflect a change in eligibility described in subclause 7i77,i77aa7 of a child2 and 7bb7 submit a meal claim for any meal provided on or after the retroactive date for a child that has a change of eligibility described in subclause 7i77,i77bb74 7,,ii7 ,reimbursement by ,secretary ,the ,secretary shall reimburse each meal claim submitted by a local educational agency under subclause 7,i74 7iii7 ,reimbursement to families ,a local educational agency that receives a reimbursement under clause 7ii77,,ii7 shall reimburse the household of a child for any fees paid by the household on or after the retroactive date and prior to the change in eligibility of the child4 4 #d4 ,universal ,medicaid direct certification ,section #i7;b77#ae7 of the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ageh7;b77#ae77 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,a7-- 7,a7 by striking clause 7i7 and inserting the following3 7i7 ,eligible child 7,i7 ,in general ,the term eligible child means a child-- 7aa7 7,,aa7 who is eligible for and receiving medical assistance under the ,medicaid program2 and 7,,bb7 who is a member of a family with an income as measured by the ,medicaid program that does not exceed1 in the case of eligibility for free meals1 #acc percent of the poverty line 7as defined in section #fgc7b7 of the ,community ,services ,block ,grant ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iijb7b771 including any revision required by such section7 applicable to a family of the size used for purposes of determining eligibility for the ,medicaid program1 or1 in the case of eligibility for reduced price meals1 the applicable family size income level under the income eligibility guidelines for reduced price meals2 and 7bb7 who is a member of a household 7as that term is defined in section #bde4b of title #g1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations77 with a child described in item 7aa74 7,,ii7 ,other children ,the term eligible child includes a child who is eligible for and receiving medical assistance under the ,medicaid program under subclause 7,i7 of section #aijb7;a77#aj77;,a77i7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acif;a7a77#aj77;,a77i77-- 7aa7 on the basis of receiving aid or assistance under the ,state plan approved under part ,e of title ,,iv of that ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fgj et seq472 7bb7 by reason of section #dgc7;b7 of that ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fgc7;b772 or 7cc7 under subclause 7,,ii7 of section #aijb7;a77#aj77;,a77i7 of that ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acif;a7a77#aj77;,a77i774 2 and 7,b7 by adding at the end the following3 7iii7 ,without further application ,the term without further application has the meaning given the term in paragraph 7#d77;,g74 2 and 7#b7 by striking subparagraphs 7,b7 through 7,h7 and inserting the following3 7,b7 ,agreement ,for the school year beginning on ,july #a1 #bjbj1 and each school year thereafter1 each ,state shall enter into an agreement described in subparagraph 7,c7 with the #a or more ,state agencies conducting eligibility determinations for the ,medicaid program4 7,c7 ,procedures 7i7 ,in general ,subject to subparagraph 7,d7 and paragraph 7#f71 an agreement entered into under subparagraph 7,b7 shall establish procedures under which an eligible child shall be certified as eligible1 without further application1 for-- 7,i7 free or reduced price lunch under this ,act2 and 7,,ii7 free or reduced price breakfast under section #d of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aggc74 7ii7 ,free meals ,each agreement entered into under subparagraph 7,b7 shall ensure that a child that is simultaneously eligible for reduced price meals under this paragraph or based on an income eligibility determination1 and for free meals based on documentation provided under subsection 7d77#b71 shall be certified for free meals4 7,d7 ,certification ,subject to paragraph 7#f71 and according to an agreement entered into under subparagraph 7,b71 the local educational agency conducting eligibility determinations under that agreement shall certify an eligible child as eligible1 without further application1 for-- 7i7 free or reduced price lunch under this ,act2 and 7ii7 free or reduced price breakfast under section #d of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aggc74 4 #e4 ,universal meal service in high poverty areas ,section #aa7;a77#a77;,f7 of the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agei;a7a77#a77;,f77 is amended by striking clause 7vii7 and inserting the following3 7vii7 ,multiplier ,for each school year beginning on or before ,july #a1 #bjbj1 the multiplier shall be #a4h4 4 #f4 ,statewide free universal school meals demonstration projects ,section #aa7;a77#a7 of the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agei;a7a77#a77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7,g7 ,statewide free universal school meals demonstration projects 7i7 ,definitions ,in this subparagraph3 7,i7 ,demonstration project ,the term demonstration project means a demonstration project carried out under clause 7ii74 7,,ii7 ,eligible school 7aa7 ,in general ,the term eligible school means a school that participates in the school lunch program under this ,act and the school breakfast program under section #d of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aggc74 7bb7 ,exclusion ,the term eligible school does not include a residential child care institution 7as defined in section #baj4b of title #g1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations774 7,,iii7 ,identified student ,the term identified student has the meaning given the term in subparagraph 7,f77i74 7,,iv7 ,selected ,state ,the term selected ,state means a ,state selected to carry out a demonstration project under clause 7iii77,i74 7ii7 ,establishment ,not later than ,july #a1 #bjba1 the ,secretary shall carry out demonstration projects in selected ,states under which school meals are provided at no charge to every student at an eligible school in the selected ,state4 7iii7 ,state selection 7,i7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall select not more than #e ,states to each carry out a demonstration project4 7,,ii7 ,applications ,a ,state seeking to carry out a demonstration project shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7,,iii7 ,priority ,in carrying out subclause 7,i71 the ,secretary shall give priority to a ,state based on-- 7aa7 the level of childhood poverty in the ,state2 7bb7 the extent to which the ,state has implemented subparagraph 7,f72 7cc7 the extent to which the direct certification rate of the ,state meets the required percentage 7as defined in section #i7;b77#d77;,f77i772 7dd7 the extent to which the ,state demonstrates a commitment to providing technical assistance to local educational agencies that will implement the demonstration project in the ,state2 and 7ee7 the extent to which the ,state demonstrates a commitment to providing non-,federal funding under clause 7vi77,,iii74 7iv7 ,start date ,a demonstration project shall begin in a selected ,state on the first day of the school year in that ,state4 7v7 ,special assistance payments 7,i7 ,first year ,for each month of the first school year during which a demonstration project is carried out1 a selected ,state shall receive special assistance payments at the rate for free meals for a percentage of all reimbursable meals served in eligible schools in the ,state in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying-- 7aa7 #a4h2 and 7bb7 the percentage of identified students in eligible schools in the ,state as of the last day of the prior school year1 up to a maximum of #ajj percent4 7,,ii7 ,subsequent years ,for each month of the second school year and each subsequent school year during which a demonstration project is carried out1 a selected ,state shall receive special assistance payments at the rate for free meals for a percentage of all reimbursable meals served in eligible schools in the ,state in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying-- 7aa7 #a4h2 and 7bb7 the higher of-- 7,,aa7 the percentage of identified students in eligible schools as of the last day of the prior school year2 and 7,,bb7 the percentage of identified students in eligible schools as of the last day of the school year prior to the first school year during which a demonstration project is carried out1 up to a maximum of #ajj percent4 7,,iii7 ,payment for other meals ,with respect to the reimbursable meals described in subclauses 7,i7 and 7,,ii7 for which a selected ,state is not receiving special assistance payments under this clause1 the reimbursement rate shall be the rate provided under section #d4 7,,iv7 ,payments in lieu of ,a special assistance payment made under this clause shall be in lieu of any other special assistance payment made under this paragraph4 7vi7 ,state implementation 7,i7 ,preliminary activities ,each selected ,state shall1 in the school year preceding the first school year during which the demonstration project shall be carried out in the ,state-- 7aa7 identify each eligible school in the ,state2 7bb7 in consultation with the ,secretary1 combine the percentage of identified students across eligible schools for the purpose of calculating the maximum reimbursement rate to ensure that the special assistance payments received under clause 7v7 are for the maximum amount2 7cc7 inform local educational agencies of the demonstration project2 and 7dd7 coordinate with local educational agencies to provide information about the demonstration project to parents or guardians of students attending eligible schools4 7,,ii7 ,meal service ,as part of a demonstration project1 an eligible school in a selected ,state-- 7aa7 shall not collect applications for free and reduced price lunches under this ,act2 and 7bb7 shall make school meals available to all children at the school at no charge4 7,,iii7 ,non-,federal funding 7aa7 ,in general ,each selected ,state may support the demonstration project using-- 7,,aa7 funds from ,state and local sources that are used for the maintenance of the free lunch program under this ,act and the free breakfast program under section #d of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aggc72 and 7,,bb7 ,state revenues appropriated or used for program purposes under section #g of this ,act4 7bb7 ,non-,federal contributions ,in addition to the funding received under this ,act and the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agga et seq471 each selected ,state shall provide funding from non-,federal sources to ensure that local educational agencies in the ,state receive the free reimbursement rate for not less than #ij percent of the meals served at eligible schools4 7cc7 ,continuation of free rate 7,,aa7 ,definition of covered school year ,in this item1 the term covered school year means the school year preceding the first school year during which a demonstration project is carried out4 7,,bb7 ,free rate ,a selected ,state that receives special assistance payments at the free reimbursement rate under subparagraph 7,f7 for more than #ij percent of the meals served at eligible schools in the covered school year shall continue to receive the free reimbursement rate for not less than the same percentage of meals in each school year during which a demonstration project is carried out4 7vii7 ,report 7,i7 ,in general ,not later than ,september #cj1 #bjbe1 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,administrator of the ,food and ,nutrition ,service1 shall submit to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry of the ,senate and the ,committees on ,agriculture and ,education and ,labor of the ,house of ,representatives a report that evaluates the impact of each demonstration project in a selected ,state on-- 7aa7 academic achievement1 absenteeism1 tardiness1 the school environment1 and child food insecurity in the ,state1 and on other key factors1 identified in consultation with the ,secretary of ,education2 7bb7 the rate of participation in the free lunch program under this ,act and the free breakfast program under section #d of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aggc7 among identified students and other students2 7cc7 school meal services1 finances1 and operations in the ,state2 7dd7 administrative costs to the ,state and the school food authorities participating in the demonstration project2 and 7ee7 the integrity of the operation of the free lunch program under this ,act in the ,state4 7,,ii7 ,funding 7aa7 ,in general ,on ,october #a1 #bjba1 out of any funds in the ,treasury not otherwise appropriated1 the ,secretary of the ,treasury shall transfer to the ,secretary to carry out this clause #c1jjj1jjj1 to remain available until ,september #cj1 #bjbe4 7bb7 ,receipt and acceptance ,the ,secretary shall be entitled to receive1 shall accept1 and shall use to carry out this clause the funds transferred under item 7aa71 without further appropriation4 4