,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cffi ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,january #ae1 #bjbf,mr4 ,schiff 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,alsobrooks1 ,mr4 ,booker1 and ,mr4 ,padilla7 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 establish a pilot program to award grants to school food authorities to provide #ajj percent plant-based food and milk options1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,plant-,powered ,school ,meals ,pilot ,act4 #b4 ,plant-based foods in schools ,section #ah of the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agfi7 is amended by inserting after subsection 7c7 the following3 7d7 ,pilot program for #ajj percent plant-,based food options 7#a7 ,definitions ,in this subsection3 7,a7 #ajj percent plant-based food option ,the term #ajj percent plant-based food option means a breakfast or lunch meal option or component that-- 7i7 includes a meat alternate as described in-- 7,i7 section #baj4aj of title #g1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations72 or 7,,ii7 appendix ,a to part #baj of title #g1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations72 and 7ii7 does not contain any animal product or byproduct1 such as meat1 poultry1 honey1 fish1 dairy1 or eggs4 7,b7 ,beginning farmer or rancher ,the term beginning farmer or rancher has the meaning given the term in section #cdc7;a7 of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aiia7;a774 7,c7 ,certified organic farm ,the term certified organic farm has the meaning given the term in section #bajc of the ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #fejb74 7,d7 ,eligible school food authority ,the term eligible school food authority means a school food authority that serves students #ej percent or more of which are eligible for free or reduced price lunch under this ,act or free or reduced price breakfast under section #d of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aggc74 7,e7 ,organically produced ,the term organically produced has the meaning given the term in section #bajc of the ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #fejb74 7,f7 ,producer ,the term producer has the meaning given the term in section #bajc of the ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #fejb74 7,g7 ,program ,the term program means the pilot program established under paragraph 7#b74 7,h7 ,underserved producer ,the term underserved producer means an individual 7including a member of an ,indian ,tribe7 that is-- 7i7 a beginning farmer or rancher2 7ii7 a veteran farmer or rancher 7as defined in section #beja7;a7 of the ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bbgi7;a7772 or 7iii7 a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher 7as defined in that section74 7#b7 ,establishment ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of the ,plant-,powered ,school ,meals ,pilot ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish a pilot program to award grants to eligible school food authorities to carry out the activities described in paragraph 7#e74 7#c7 ,grants 7,a7 ,term ,the term of a grant awarded under the program shall be #c years4 7,b7 ,amount ,the ,secretary shall award grants under the program in diverse amounts to the extent practicable4 7#d7 ,application 7,a7 ,in general ,to be eligible to receive a grant under the program1 an eligible school food authority shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require1 including-- 7i7 a participatory evaluation plan2 and 7ii7 a plan for providing culturally appropriate meals4 7,b7 ,priority ,to the maximum extent practicable1 in awarding grants under the program1 the ,secretary shall give priority to an eligible school food authority that will use the grant funds-- 7i7 to serve a high proportion of children who are eligible for free or reduced price meals2 7ii7 to collaborate with nongovernmental and community-based organizations1 agricultural producers1 and other community partners with respect to the activities described in paragraph 7#e72 7iii7 to incorporate experiential and culturally appropriate plant-based food1 nutrition1 or agricultural education activities related to #ajj percent plant-based food options in the classroom2 7iv7 to incorporate organically produced #ajj percent plant-based food options2 and 7v7 to meet any other criteria that the ,secretary determines appropriate4 7#e7 ,use of funds ,a grant awarded under the program may be used for any of the following activities3 7,a7 ,to contract with qualified third parties for professional development training for food service personnel relating to serving 7including preparing1 procuring1 marketing1 and creating menus7 #ajj percent plant-based food options4 7,b7 ,to provide compensation to each employee who participates in the professional development training described in subparagraph 7,a7 at the regular rate of pay of such employee4 7,c7 ,to provide technical assistance and student engagement and education on #ajj percent plant-based food options1 including providing taste tests1 recipe development1 and culinary education4 7,d7 ,to provide compensation for additional work relating to serving meals that include a #ajj percent plant-based food option4 7,e7 ,to conduct outreach to1 and cover costs of procurement of foods from1 agricultural producers of #ajj percent plant-based food options1 including-- 7i7 underserved producers2 7ii7 limited resource farmers or ranchers 7as defined by the ,secretary72 7iii7 producers on a certified organic farm2 and 7iv7 local farmers4 7#f7 ,recordkeeping required ,each eligible school food authority awarded a grant under the program shall keep records of the #ajj percent plant-based food options served1 as the ,secretary determines appropriate4 7#g7 ,reports 7,a7 ,school food authorities ,not later than #a year after receiving a grant under the program1 and annually for the duration of the grant term1 an eligible school food authority shall submit to the ,secretary a report on the activities carried out using the grant1 including information on-- 7i7 the number of #ajj percent plant-based food options that the eligible school food authority served during the grant period compared with the preceding school year2 7ii7 the number of schools served by the eligible school food authority pursuant to the grant2 and 7iii7 the number of students served by the eligible school food authority pursuant to the grant4 7,b7 ,report by ,secretary ,with respect to each school year during which the ,secretary receives a report under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,secretary shall1 not later than #a year after the date that is the last day of that school year1 submit to ,congress a report that includes-- 7i7 a summary of the reports received during that school year2 and 7ii7 such information with respect to the program as the ,secretary determines to be relevant4 7#h7 ,technical assistance ,the ,secretary shall provide technical assistance and information to assist eligible school food authorities receiving grants under the program-- 7,a7 to facilitate the coordination and sharing of information and resources that may be applicable to the activities described in paragraph 7#e72 and 7,b7 to collect and share information on best practices4 7#i7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection #aj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbf1 to remain available through fiscal year #bjcj4 4 #c4 ,accommodating dietary requirements ,section #i7;a77#b7 of the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ageh7;a77#b77 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,a77iii7-- 7,a7 by inserting or other medical or special dietary need after disability each place it appears2 and 7,b7 by striking or legal guardian and inserting legal guardian1 or student2 7#b7 by striking subparagraphs 7,b7 and 7,e72 7#c7 by redesignating subparagraphs 7,c7 and 7,d7 as subparagraphs 7,b7 and 7,c71 respectively2 and 7#d7 by adding at the end the following3 7,d7 ,pilot program 7i7 ,definition of eligible school food authority ,in this subparagraph1 the term eligible school food authority has the meaning given the term in section #ah7;d77#a74 7ii7 ,establishment ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of the ,plant-,powered ,school ,meals ,pilot ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish a pilot program to award grants to eligible school food authorities to reimburse the full cost incurred by the eligible school food authority of providing nondairy beverages as substitutes for fluid milk under subparagraph 7,a77ii74 7iii7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under this subparagraph1 the ,secretary may give priority to-- 7,i7 an eligible school food authority that serves high proportions of students with lactose intolerance2 and 7,,ii7 an eligible school food authority that demonstrates1 as part of the application for a grant under this subparagraph1 a need for nondairy beverages for students served by the eligible school food authority due to dietary reasons4 7iv7 ,reports 7,i7 ,annual report by school food authority ,not later than #a year after receiving a grant under this subparagraph1 and on an annual basis for the duration of the grant1 an eligible school food authority shall submit to the ,secretary a report on the pilot grant program1 including information on-- 7aa7 the number of schools and students that were provided nondairy beverages as substitutes for fluid milk under subparagraph 7,a77ii7 by the eligible school food authority2 and 7bb7 in the case of the final report submitted under this subclause1 the number of such beverages that the eligible school food authority served during the grant period compared with the number of such beverages that the eligible school food authority served during the school year immediately preceding the start of the grant period4 7,,ii7 ,report by the ,secretary ,not later than #ahj days after the date described in clause 7v71 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report on the pilot program carried out under this subparagraph1 including a summary of the information included in the reports received under this clause from eligible school food authorities4 7v7 ,sunset ,the authority to carry out this subparagraph shall terminate on the date that is #c years after the date of enactment of the ,plant-,powered ,school ,meals ,pilot ,act4 7vi7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subparagraph #b1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbf1 to remain available until the date described in clause 7v74 7,e7 ,definition of special dietary need ,in this paragraph1 the term special dietary need means a dietary need that does not constitute a disability1 including a dietary need relating to religious or moral conviction4 4