,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #deii ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #bj1 #bjbf,mr4 ,schiff 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 promoting scratch cooking in school meal programs1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,scratch ,cooked ,meals for ,students ,act of #bjbf4 #b4 ,pilot program for grants promoting scratch cooking in school meal programs ,section #ah of the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agfi7 is amended by inserting before subsection 7b7 the following3 7a7 ,scratch cooking pilot program 7#a7 ,definition of scratch cooking ,in this subsection1 the term scratch cooking means the preparation of food using ingredients that are unprocessed or minimally processed4 7#b7 ,establishment ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of the ,scratch ,cooked ,meals for ,students ,act of #bjbf1 the ,secretary shall establish a pilot program 7referred to in this subsection as the pilot program7 to award competitive grants to school food authorities to promote scratch cooking4 7#c7 ,grant duration ,a grant awarded under the pilot program shall be for a period of #b school years4 7#d7 ,applications 7,a7 ,in general ,to be eligible to receive a grant under the pilot program1 a school food authority shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7,b7 ,priority ,in evaluating applications received under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,secretary shall give the highest priority to school food authorities that-- 7i7 serve the greatest proportion of students eligible for free or reduced price lunch under this ,act2 7ii7 are-- 7,i7 self-operated2 or 7,,ii7 provide an assurance to the ,secretary that the school food authority will be self-operated on or before the date that is #a year before the last day of the grant period2 and 7iii7 7,i7 have employees who are represented by a collective bargaining agreement or memorandum of understanding1 if such employees are permitted by law to be so represented2 or 7,,ii7 provide an assurance to the ,secretary that the school food authority will1 with respect to the employees of the school food authority1 negotiate a collective bargaining agreement or memorandum of understanding on or before the date that is #a year before the last day of the grant period4 7#e7 ,eligible uses ,eligible uses of a grant awarded under the pilot program include-- 7,a7 promoting professional development and training related to preparing1 procuring1 advertising1 serving1 and creating menus of meals made with scratch cooking2 7,b7 purchasing cafeteria equipment or making infrastructure modifications necessary for scratch cooking2 7,c7 compensating employees for additional food preparation necessary for scratch cooking2 7,d7 providing technical assistance1 pupil engagement1 and education related to scratch cooking1 such as taste tests1 recipe development1 and culinary education2 7,e7 investing in software and technology systems for procurement to support scratch cooking2 and 7,f7 carrying out any additional activities to promote scratch cooking that will help school food authorities meet or exceed the nutrition standards for the school lunch program under this ,act and the school breakfast program established by section #d of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aggc74 7#f7 ,technical assistance 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall enter into an agreement with #a or more nonprofit organizations to establish a technical assistance and resource center to provide technical assistance to carry out subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,c7 of paragraph 7#e74 7,b7 ,collaboration requirement ,as soon as practicable after receiving a grant under the pilot program1 a school food authority shall collaborate with the technical assistance and resource center established under subparagraph 7,a7-- 7i7 to conduct a needs assessment to evaluate equipment needs1 equipment utilization1 procurement processes1 and workforce capabilities of the school food authority2 and 7ii7 based on that needs assessment1 to establish a strategic plan to carry out the grant4 7#g7 ,report from school food authorities 7,a7 ,in general ,each school food authority that receives a grant under the pilot program shall1 not later than #ahj days after the conclusion of the grant period1 submit to the ,secretary a report on the activities carried out using the grant1 including a comparison of the factors described in subparagraph 7,b7 as of the school year immediately preceding the beginning of the grant period and the school year at the end of the grant period4 7,b7 ,factors described ,the factors referred to in subparagraph 7,a7 are-- 7i7 the percentage of whole ingredients1 raw ingredients1 or both1 as a share of total expenditures used in school meals2 and 7ii7 the percentage of menu items prepared with scratch cooking4 7#h7 ,authorization of appropriations 7,a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the pilot program #bj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbg through #bjca4 7,b7 ,reservations ,of the amounts made available under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,secretary shall use-- 7i7 not more than #ae percent to carry out paragraph 7#f71 including administrative expenses2 and 7ii7 not more than #e percent for other administrative expenses4 4