An Act To Address Student Hunger through Expanding Access to Free School Meals
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1679
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: JACKSON, FECTEAU, BREEN, DAUGHTRY, RAFFERTY, VITELLI, BRENNAN, MILLETT, PIERCE, SALISBURY
Amends: 20-A MRSA §6602

Legislative Document
No. 1679
S.P. 540
In Senate, May 6, 2021
An Act To Address Student Hunger through Expanding Access to 
Free School Meals
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on May 4, 2021.  Referred to the Committee on 
Education and Cultural Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by President JACKSON of Aroostook.
Cosponsored by Speaker FECTEAU of Biddeford and
Senators: BREEN of Cumberland, DAUGHTRY of Cumberland, RAFFERTY of York, 
VITELLI of Sagadahoc, Representatives: BRENNAN of Portland, MILLETT of Cape 
Elizabeth, PIERCE of Falmouth, SALISBURY of Westbrook.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §6602, sub-§1, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 539, Pt. IIII, 
§1, is amended to read:
B.  A public school that serves breakfast shall provide all students a student who are is 
eligible for free and reduced-price meals under paragraph A a meal that meets the 
requirements of the federal School Breakfast Program set forth in 7 Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 220 (2007) at no cost to the student. The State shall provide to the 
public school funding equal to the difference between the federal reimbursement for a 
free breakfast and the federal reimbursement for a reduced-price breakfast for each 
student eligible for a reduced-price breakfast and receiving breakfast.
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §6602, sub-§1, ¶D, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 343, Pt. NNNN, 
§1, is amended to read:
D.  A public school that serves lunch shall provide all students a student who are is 
eligible for free and reduced-price meals under paragraph A a meal that meets the 
requirements of the federal National School Lunch Program set forth in 7 Code of 
Federal Regulations, Part 210 (2019) at no cost to the student. The State shall provide 
to the public school funding equal to the difference between the federal reimbursement 
for a free lunch and the federal reimbursement for a reduced-price lunch for each 
student eligible for a reduced-price lunch and receiving lunch.
Sec. 3.  20-A MRSA §6602, sub-§1, ¶H is enacted to read:
H.  A public school that serves breakfast shall provide a student who is ineligible for 
free or reduced-price meals under paragraph A a meal that meets the requirements of 
the federal School Breakfast Program set forth in 7 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 
(2007) at no cost to the student.  The State shall provide to the public school 
funding equal to the difference between the federal reimbursement for a free breakfast 
and the full price of the breakfast for each student ineligible for a free or reduced-price 
breakfast and receiving breakfast.
Sec. 4.  20-A MRSA §6602, sub-§1, ¶I is enacted to read:
I.  A public school that serves lunch shall provide a student who is ineligible for free 
or reduced-price meals under paragraph A a meal that meets the requirements of the 
federal School Breakfast Program set forth in 7 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 210 
(2019) at no cost to the student.  The State shall provide to the public school funding 
equal to the difference between the federal reimbursement for a free lunch and the full 
price of the lunch for each student ineligible for a free or reduced-price lunch and 
receiving lunch.
Sec. 5.  20-A MRSA §6602, sub-§1, ¶J is enacted to read:
J.  A school or school administrative unit shall request the parent or guardian of each 
student to complete a household income form provided by the department to determine 
a family's economic status to determine eligibility for state and federal food assistance 
programs under this subchapter.  This requirement does not apply if the school or 
school administrative unit is able to obtain equivalent information through another 
means.
Sec. 6.  Participation in federal universal meal options.  To the maximum 
extent possible, a school administrative unit that serves breakfast or lunch and is eligible 
for the community eligibility provision under the federal Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act 
of 2010, Public Law, 111-296, Section 104(a) or other federal universal meal programs 
shall maximize participation in the programs including the federal resources available in 
those programs by expanding access to breakfast and lunch at no cost for all eligible 
students at a school.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the State to pay the difference between the federal requirement for a 
free breakfast or lunch and the full price for a breakfast or lunch at no cost to the students 
who are ineligible for free or reduced-price school meals.  It also directs schools and school 
administrative units to request parents and guardians to complete household income forms 
to determine eligibility for various state and federal food assistance programs.  This bill 
also directs school administrative units to the maximum extent possible to maximize 
participation in federal school meal programs.