Military Dependents School Meal Eligibility Act of 2021

To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to allow direct certification of children in households of active duty members of the Armed Forces for certain Federal school meal programs, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Military Dependents School Meal Eligibility Act of 2021 2. Direct certification for dependent children of active duty Members of the Armed Forces (a) In general Section 9 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1758 (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (5)— (i) by striking certification. certification. (A) Free lunches or breakfasts Subject to paragraph (6), any local educational agency or, in the case of a school that is operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity, the administration of such school, ; (ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (D) as clauses (i) through (iv) and adjusting the margins accordingly; (iii) in clause (iv), as so redesignated, by striking or (iv) by inserting after clause (iv), as so redesignated, the following: (v) a member of a household in which a child is a dependent of an active duty member of the Armed Forces and such active duty member has a military income (as defined in paragraph (16)(C)) that does not exceed 130 percent of the poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management and Budget). ; (v) in subparagraph (E)— (I) by redesignating such subparagraph as clause (vi) and adjusting the margins accordingly; and (II) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) of such subparagraph as subclauses (I) and (II) and adjusting the margins accordingly; and (vi) by adding at the end the following: (B) Reduced price lunches or breakfasts Subject to paragraph (6), any local educational agency may certify any child who is not eligible for free school lunch or breakfast as eligible for reduced price lunches or breakfasts, without further application, by directly communicating with the appropriate State or local agency to obtain documentation of the status of the child as a member of a household in which a child is a dependent of an active duty member of the Armed Forces and such active duty member has a military income (as defined in paragraph (16)(C)) that does not exceed 185 percent of the poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management and Budget). ; (B) in paragraph (6)(A)— (i) in clause (iv)(II), by striking and (ii) in clause (v), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (iii) by adding at the end the following: (vi) a person directly connected with the administration or enforcement of the Department of Defense Integrated Personnel and Pay System. ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (16) Direct certification for dependent children of active duty members of the Armed Forces (A) Agreement (i) In general For purposes of making eligibility determinations with respect to certifying children under subparagraph (A)(v) or (B) of paragraph (5), a State agency shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Defense. (ii) Without further application Subject to paragraph (6), the agreement described in clause (i) shall establish procedures for certifying children under subparagraph (A)(v) or (B) of paragraph (5), without further application (as defined in paragraph (4)(G)). (B) Access to data For purposes of carrying out this paragraph and subparagraph (A)(v) or (B) of paragraph (5), the Secretary of Defense shall provide the Secretary with access to non-classified income information as may be necessary to determine the military income of an active duty member of the Armed Forces. (C) Military income (i) Military income defined For purposes of this subsection, the term military income (ii) Special rule In the case of a child who is the dependent of one or more active duty members of the Armed Forces, the Secretary, in determining eligibility under subparagraph (A)(v) or (B) of paragraph (5), shall use the lesser of the military incomes of such members. ; and (2) in subsection (d)(2)— (A) in subparagraph (F)(ii), by striking the or (B) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or (C) by adding at the end the following: (H) documentation has been provided to the appropriate local educational agency or administration of a school that is operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity showing the status of the child as a member of a household described in subparagraph (A)(v) or (B) of subsection (b)(5). . (b) Clarification Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide a process for a parent or guardian whose child is directly certified under subparagraph (A)(v) or (B) of section 9(b) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1758(b)

Summary: Military Dependents School Meal Eligibility Act of 2021 This bill allows certain dependent children in households of active duty members of the Armed Forces to qualify for free and reduced-price school meals through a direct certification process.