Anti-Lunch Shaming Act of 2017

To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to prohibit the stigmatization of children who are unable to pay for meals. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Anti-Lunch Shaming Act of 2017 2. Prohibition on stigmatization of children who are unable to pay for meals Section 9(b)(10) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(10) (1) by striking (10) No physical (10) Discriminatory or stigmatizing treatment of children by schools (A) Discrimination based on eligibility No physical ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (B) Stigmatization based on lack of funds or debt (i) Definition of covered child In this subparagraph, the term covered child (I) is a student at a school that participates in— (aa) the school lunch program established under this Act; or (bb) the school breakfast program established by section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 42 U.S.C. 1773 (II) (aa) does not have funds to pay for a lunch or breakfast at the school; or (bb) has outstanding credit that was extended by a school food authority for a lunch or breakfast at the school. (ii) Requirements of school food authorities (I) In general A school food authority shall not permit— (aa) the public identification or stigmatization of a covered child, such as by requiring the covered child to wear a wristband or display a hand stamp to identify the covered child as a covered child; or (bb) any requirement that a covered child, because of the status of the covered child as a covered child— (AA) perform chores or any other activity that is not required of students generally; or (BB) dispose of a lunch or breakfast after it has been served to the covered child. (II) Communications (aa) In general Subject to item (bb), a school food authority shall require that any communication relating to an outstanding credit described in clause (i)(II)(bb) of a covered child shall be directed— (AA) to a parent or guardian of the covered child; and (BB) not to the covered child. (bb) Letters A school food authority may permit a requirement that a covered child deliver a letter addressed to a parent or guardian of the covered child that contains a communication described in item (aa), subject to the condition that the letter shall not be distributed to the covered child in a manner that stigmatizes the covered child. . 3. Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Agriculture should ensure that— (1) (A) to the maximum extent practicable, an application for a free or reduced price lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1751 (i) in an understandable and uniform format; and (ii) by not later than July 1 each year; and (B) a school food authority offers technical assistance to a parent or legal guardian to complete an application described in subparagraph (A); (2) each school food authority coordinates with— (A) the local educational agency liaison designated under section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii) 42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(12)(A)(iv) (B) the State agency responsible for administering the State plans under parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 621 42 U.S.C. 470 42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(12)(A)(vii) (3) a school food authority that participates in the school lunch program or the school breakfast program under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1751 Child Nutrition Act of 1966 42 U.S.C. 1773 (A) shall provide to a child who requests a lunch or breakfast a lunch or breakfast, regardless of whether the child— (i) has money to pay for the lunch or breakfast; or (ii) owes money for a lunch or breakfast; (B) shall not provide to a child who qualifies for a free or reduced price lunch or breakfast an alternate meal that is not provided to students generally; and (C) should explore innovative ways to use technology to improve and coordinate communications with parents and guardians with respect to functions such as— (i) prepayment for meals; (ii) checking balances for school meals; (iii) adding funds to accounts for school meals; (iv) addressing outstanding debt for school meals; and (v) sending automatic emails when an account balance is low.

Summary: Anti-Lunch Shaming Act of 2017 This bill amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish requirements for the treatment of a child who is a student at a school participating in the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program and is unable to pay for a meal at the school. The bill applies to a child who either does not have funds to pay for a meal or has outstanding credit that was extended by a school food authority (SFA). A SFA may not permit public identification or stigmatization of the child, such as by requiring a wristband or hand stamp. The child also may not be required to: (1) perform chores or activities that are not required of students generally, or (2) dispose of food after it has been served to the child. Any communication related to outstanding credit must be directed to the child's parent or guardian. A child may be required to deliver a letter regarding outstanding credit that is addressed to a parent or guardian if the letter is not distributed to the child in a manner that stigmatizes the child. The bill also expresses the sense of Congress regarding several issues regarding the administration of the school meal programs.