SB2428 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 16473 AXK 31602 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SB2428

Introduced 1/30/2018, by Sen. Steve Stadelman

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Hunger-Free Students' Bill of Rights Act. Provides that every school in this State shall provide a federally reimbursable lunch to a student of that school who requests the lunch, regardless of whether the student has the ability to pay for the lunch or owes money for earlier lunches. Provides that if a student owes money for 5 or more lunches, a school shall reach out to the parent or guardian of the student to attempt collection of the owed money and to request that the parent or guardian enroll the student in a free or reduced-price lunch program. Provides that a school may not publicly identify or stigmatize a student who cannot pay for a lunch or who owes money for lunches. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Hunger-Free Students' Bill of Rights Act.

Section 5. Definition. In this Act, "school" means any public or private elementary or secondary school that participates in the national school lunch program.

Section 10. Reimbursable lunch.

(a) Every school in this State shall provide a federally reimbursable lunch to a student of that school who requests the lunch, regardless of whether the student has the ability to pay for the lunch or owes money for earlier lunches. The school may not provide a student requesting a lunch under this subsection (a) an alternate lunch that is different from the other lunches provided to students in that school.

(b) If a student owes money for 5 or more lunches, a school shall reach out to the parent or guardian of the student to attempt collection of the owed money and to request that the parent or guardian enroll the student in a free or reduced-price lunch program.

Section 15. Anti-stigmatization practices. A school may not publicly identify or stigmatize a student who cannot pay for a lunch or who owes money for lunches in a manner that includes, but is not limited to:

(1) requiring the student to wear a wristband;

(2) giving the student a hand stamp;

(3) requiring the student to throw away a meal after being served;

(4) requiring the student to sit in a separate location; or

(5) any other action that would stigmatize the student.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.