Pandemic Child Hunger Prevention Act

To reimburse school food authorities at the free rate for meals served during school year 2020–2021 under the school breakfast program and the school lunch program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Pandemic Child Hunger Prevention Act 2. Reimbursement for meals served during school year 2020–2021 (a) Provisions relating to school year 2020–2021 (1) Reimbursements during school year 2020–2021 Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during school year 2020–2021, in making reimbursements to a State— (A) for lunches served by school food authorities in such State under the school lunch program under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1751 (B) for breakfasts served by school food authorities in such State under the school breakfast program under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1773 (2) Participation in meal programs during school year 2020–2021 Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during school year 2020–2021, all children enrolled in a school that participates— (A) in the school lunch program under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1751 (B) in the school breakfast program under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1773 (3) One-time election to exclude school year 2020–2021 Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a local educational agency may make a one-time election to exclude school year 2020–2021 from the 4-year period during which such local educational agency elects to receive payments under subparagraphs (C), (E), or (F) of section 11(a)(1) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1759a(a)(1) (b) Provisions relating to school year 2021–2022 (1) Calculation of identified students for school year 2021–2022 For school year 2021–2022, in determining the percentage of identified students under section 11(a)(1)(F) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1759a(a)(1)(F) (A) shall certify students in accordance with paragraphs (4), (5), (6), and (15) of section 9(b) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1758(b) (B) notwithstanding any other provision of law, may use the percentage of identified students— (i) as of August 31, 2020; or (ii) as of August 31, 2021. (2) Selection of schools under fresh fruit and vegetable program for school year 2021–2022 Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of participating in the program under section 19 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1769a 42 U.S.C. 1769a(d)(1)(A)(i) (3) Paid lunch calculation for school year 2021–2022 Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of establishing a price for paid lunches under section 12(p) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1760(p) (A) school year 2020–2021 shall not apply as the previous school year; and (B) school year 2019–2020 shall apply as the previous school year. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Free breakfast rate The term free breakfast rate (A) the national average breakfast payment for free breakfast under section 4(b)(1)(B) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1773(b)(1)(B) 42 U.S.C. 1759a(a) (B) in the case of a school food authority that meets the requirements for severe need under section 4(b)(2) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1773(b)(2) 42 U.S.C. 1759a(a) (C) the additional amount under section 4(b)(3) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1773(b)(3) (2) Free lunch rate The term free lunch rate (A) the national average lunch rate under section 4(b)(2) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1753(b)(2) 42 U.S.C. 1759a(a) (B) in the case of a school food authority in which 60 percent or more of the lunches served in the school lunch program during the second preceding school year were served free or at a reduced price, the additional payment amount specified under section 4(b)(2) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1753(b)(2) (C) in the case of a school food authority that is determined eligible under subparagraph (D) of section 4(b)(3) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1753(b)(3) 42 U.S.C. 1759a(a) (D) the applicable special assistance factor under section 11(a)(2) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1759a(a)(2) 42 U.S.C. 1759a(a) (3) Secretary The term Secretary 3. Eligibility under other child nutrition programs during school year 2020–2021 (a) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during school year 2020–2021, each child enrolled in a school that participates in the school lunch program under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1751 42 U.S.C. 1773 (b) Qualified child nutrition program defined In this section, the term qualified child nutrition program (1) the summer food service program for children under section 13(a)(1)(A)(i) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1761(a)(1)(A)(i) (2) the program for at-risk school children under section 17(r) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1766(r) (3) the meal supplements for children in afterschool care program under section 17A of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1766a

Summary: Pandemic Child Hunger Prevention Act This bill revises food and nutrition programs of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. USDA must reimburse states at the free rate for meals served by school food authorities in such states during the 2020-2021 school year under the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. All children enrolled in a school that participates in such programs are temporarily eligible (without application) to receive free school meals during the 2020-2021 school year. Additionally, such children are certified eligible (without application) for free meals under the (1) summer food service program, (2) child and adult care food program, and (3) meal supplements for children in after-school programs. The bill also sets forth provisions related to the 2021-2022 school year, including provisions regarding (1) calculations to determine the percentage of identified students under the school meal programs, (2) the selection of schools under the fresh fruit and vegetable program, and (3) establishing a price for paid lunches during such school year.