School Hunger Elimination Act of 2021

To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to improve program requirements, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the School Hunger Elimination Act of 2021 2. Mandatory direct certification Section 9(b)(5) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(5) (1) in the paragraph heading, by striking Discretionary certification Direct certification of additional low-income children (2) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking may shall 3. Direct certification for children receiving Social Security income (a) In general Section 9(b)(5) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(5) (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking or (2) in subparagraph (E)(ii), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or (3) by adding at the end the following: (F) a child who receives supplemental security income payments under title XVI of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq. . (b) Data from Social Security Administration Section 9(b) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1758(b) (16) Data from social security administration In the case of direct certification under paragraph (5) or (12)(A) of a child who receives supplemental security income payments under title XVI of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq. . 4. Retroactive reimbursement Section 9(b)(9) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(9) (D) Retroactive reimbursement (i) Definitions In this subparagraph: (I) Change in eligibility The term change in eligibility (aa) a change from eligibility for reduced price meals to eligibility for free meals; and (bb) a change from noneligibility to eligibility for free or reduced price meals. (II) Meal claim The term meal claim (III) Previously submitted The term previously submitted (IV) Retroactive date The term retroactive date (ii) Retroactivity (I) Submission of meal claims A local educational agency shall— (aa) revise and resubmit a previously submitted meal claim to reflect a change in eligibility described in subclause (i)(I)(aa) of a child; and (bb) 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 (i)(I)(bb). (II) Reimbursement by Secretary The Secretary shall reimburse each meal claim submitted by a local educational agency under subclause (I). (iii) Reimbursement to families A local educational agency that receives a reimbursement under clause (ii)(II) 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 child. . 5. Universal Medicaid direct certification Section 9(b)(15) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(15) (1) in subparagraph (A)— (A) by striking clause (i) and inserting the following: (i) Eligible child (I) In general The term eligible child (aa) (AA) is eligible for and receiving medical assistance under the Medicaid program; and (BB) is a member of a family with an income as measured by the Medicaid program that does not exceed, in the case of eligibility for free meals, 133 percent of the poverty line (as defined in section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9902(2) (bb) is a member of a household (as that term is defined in section 245.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations)) with a child described in item (aa). (II) Other children The term eligible child 42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i) (aa) on the basis of receiving aid or assistance under the State plan approved under part E of title IV of that Act ( 42 U.S.C. 670 et seq. (bb) by reason of section 473(b) of that Act ( 42 U.S.C. 673(b) (cc) under subclause (II) of section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i) of that Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i) ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (iii) Without further application The term without further application ; and (2) by striking subparagraphs (B) through (H) and inserting the following: (B) Agreement For the school year beginning on July 1, 2022, and each school year thereafter, each State shall enter into an agreement described in subparagraph (C) with the 1 or more State agencies conducting eligibility determinations for the Medicaid program. (C) Procedures (i) In general Subject to subparagraph (D) and paragraph (6), an agreement entered into under subparagraph (B) shall establish procedures under which an eligible child shall be certified as eligible, without further application, for— (I) free or reduced price lunch under this Act; and (II) free or reduced price breakfast under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1773 (ii) Free meals Each agreement entered into under subparagraph (B) shall ensure that a child who is simultaneously eligible for reduced price meals under this paragraph or based on an income eligibility determination, and for free meals based on documentation provided under subsection (d)(2), shall be certified for free meals. (D) Certification Subject to paragraph (6), and according to an agreement entered into under subparagraph (B), the local educational agency conducting eligibility determinations under that agreement shall certify an eligible child as eligible, without further application, for— (i) free or reduced price lunch under this Act; and (ii) free or reduced price breakfast under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1773 . 6. Universal meal service in high poverty areas Section 11(a)(1)(F) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1759a(a)(1)(F) (vii) Multiplier For each school year beginning on or before July 1, 2022, the multiplier shall be 2.5. . 7. Statewide free universal school meals demonstration projects Section 11(a)(1) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1759a(a)(1) (G) Statewide free universal school meals demonstration projects (i) Definitions In this subparagraph: (I) Demonstration project The term demonstration project (II) Eligible school (aa) In general The term eligible school 42 U.S.C. 1773 (bb) Exclusion The term eligible school (III) Identified student The term identified student (IV) Selected State The term selected State (ii) Establishment Not later than July 1, 2023, 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 State. (iii) State selection (I) In general The Secretary shall select not more than 5 States to each carry out a demonstration project. (II) Applications A State seeking to carry out a demonstration project shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (III) Priority In carrying out subclause (I), the Secretary shall give priority to a State based on— (aa) the level of childhood poverty in the State; (bb) the extent to which the State has implemented subparagraph (F); (cc) the extent to which the direct certification rate of the State meets the required percentage (as defined in section 9(b)(4)(F)(i)); (dd) 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 State; and (ee) the extent to which the State demonstrates a commitment to providing non-Federal funding under clause (vi)(III). (iv) Start date A demonstration project shall begin in a selected State on the first day of the school year in that State. (v) Special assistance payments (I) First year For each month of the first school year during which a demonstration project is carried out, 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— (aa) 1.9; and (bb) the percentage of identified students in eligible schools in the State as of the last day of the prior school year, up to a maximum of 100 percent. (II) Subsequent years For each month of the second school year and each subsequent school year during which a demonstration project is carried out, 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— (aa) 1.9; and (bb) the higher of— (AA) the percentage of identified students in eligible schools as of the last day of the prior school year; and (BB) 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 out, up to a maximum of 100 percent. (III) Payment for other meals With respect to the reimbursable meals described in subclauses (I) and (II) for which a selected State is not receiving special assistance payments under this clause, the reimbursement rate shall be the rate provided under section 4. (IV) 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 paragraph. (vi) State implementation (I) Preliminary activities Each selected State shall, in the school year preceding the first school year during which the demonstration project shall be carried out in the State— (aa) identify each eligible school in the State; (bb) in consultation with the Secretary, 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 (v) are for the maximum amount; (cc) inform local educational agencies of the demonstration project; and (dd) coordinate with local educational agencies to provide information about the demonstration project to parents or guardians of students attending eligible schools. (II) Meal service As part of a demonstration project, an eligible school in a selected State— (aa) shall not collect applications for free and reduced price lunches under this Act; and (bb) shall make school meals available to all children at the school at no charge. (III) Non-Federal funding (aa) In general Each selected State may support the demonstration project using— (AA) 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 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1773 (BB) State revenues appropriated or used for program purposes under section 7 of this Act. (bb) Non-Federal contributions In addition to the funding received under this Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq. (cc) Continuation of free rate (AA) Definition of covered school year In this item, the term covered school year (BB) Free rate A selected State that receives special assistance payments at the free reimbursement rate under subparagraph (F) for more than 90 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 out. (vii) Report (I) In general Not later than September 30, 2027, the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service, shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 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 with respect to— (aa) academic achievement, absenteeism, tardiness, the school environment, child food insecurity in the selected State, and other key factors identified in consultation with the Secretary of Education; (bb) the rate of participation in the free lunch program under this Act and the free breakfast program under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1773 (cc) school meal services, finances, and operations in the selected State; (dd) administrative costs to the selected State and the school food authorities participating in the demonstration project; and (ee) the integrity of the operation of the free lunch program under this Act in the selected State. (II) Funding (aa) In general On October 1, 2023, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary to carry out this clause $3,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2027. (bb) Receipt and acceptance The Secretary shall be entitled to receive, shall accept, and shall use to carry out this clause the funds transferred under item (aa), without further appropriation. .

Summary: School Hunger Elimination Act of 2021 This bill revises requirements under the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program of the Department of Agriculture, including by expanding mandatory direct certification of low-income children for free or reduced-price meals.