TITLE: Relating to the adoption of a policy allowing a grace period after the exhaustion of the balance of a meal card or account used by students to purchase meals in public schools.

SUMMARY: Relating to the adoption of a policy allowing a grace period after the exhaustion of the balance of a meal card or account used by students to purchase meals in public schools.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the adoption of a policy allowing a grace period after the exhaustion of the balance of a meal card or account used by students to purchase meals in public schools. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 33, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 33.908 to read as follows: Sec. 33.908. GRACE PERIOD POLICY FOR EXHAUSTED OR INSUFFICIENT MEAL CARD OR ACCOUNT BALANCE. A school district that allows students to use a prepaid meal card or account to purchase meals served at the school shall adopt a grace period policy regarding the use of the cards or accounts. The policy: (1) must allow a student whose meal card or account balance is exhausted or insufficient to continue, for a period determined by the district, to purchase meals by: (A) accumulating a negative balance on the student's card or account; or (B) otherwise receiving an extension of credit from the district; (2) must require the district to notify the parent of or person standing in parental relation to the student that the student's meal card or account balance is exhausted; (3) may not permit the district to charge a fee or interest in connection with meals purchased under Subdivision (1); and (4) may permit the district to set a schedule for repayment on the account balance as part of the notice to the parent or person standing in parental relation to the student. SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2015-2016 school year. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.