(a)Federal funds appropriated to the Department of Education for a child nutrition program shall be used to provide school breakfasts and lunches at no cost to each qualifying student.
(b)(1) A public school that serves a school breakfast or a school lunch as part of a child nutrition program shall not charge a qualifying student a reduced-price copayment for a school breakfast or a school lunch.
(2)(A) If necessary to comply with the requirements of this section, the department shall provide funds that have been disbursed to the department from the United States Govenment for purposes of funding child nutrition programs to each public school that serves a school breakfast or a school lunch as part of a child nutrition program to cover the cost of eliminating reduced-price copayments as
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(a) Federal funds appropriated to the Department of Education for a child nutrition program shall be used to provide school breakfasts and lunches at no cost to each qualifying student. (b) (1) A public school that serves a school breakfast or a school lunch as part of a child nutrition program shall not charge a qualifying student a reduced-price copayment for a school breakfast or a school lunch. (2) (A) If necessary to comply with the requirements of this section, the department shall provide funds that have been disbursed to the department from the United States Govenment for purposes of funding child nutrition programs to each public school that serves a school breakfast or a school lunch as part of a child nutrition program to cover the cost of eliminating reduced-price copayments as required by subdivision (b)(1) of this section. (B) If federal funds appropriated to the department for a child nutrition program are insufficient to provide a school breakfast or a school lunch at no cost under subdivision (b)(2)(A) of this section, the department shall use funds as authorized by law to provide a school breakfast or a school lunch not initially covered by federal funds under subsection (a) of this section or other funds as authorized by law. (c) (1) Annually by November 15, the Department of Education shall report on and provide to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education an overview of each child nutrition program offered in public schools. (2) The report required under subdivision (c)(1) of this section shall include without limitation: (A) The procedure for applying for free or reduced-price meals in public schools; and (B) The number of students who: (i) Apply for free or reduced-price meals; (ii) Are accepted to receive free or reduced-price meals; (iii) Are denied from receiving free or reduced-price meals; and (iv) Automatically qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on federal eligibility requirements. (d) (1) Arkansas Legislative Audit shall audit the Department of Education Child Nutrition Unit by December 15, 2023, and report the audit findings to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education. (2) The audit required under subdivision (d)(1) of this section shall determine whether each public school's participation in a child nutrition program effectively: (A) Serves the intent of the General Assembly to expand students' access to free meals in public schools; and (B) Complies with federal and state law and rules. (e) As used in this section: (1) "Child nutrition program" includes the following as established under the National School Lunch Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1751 et seq., as it existed on January 1, 2023: (A) The National School Lunch Program; or (B) The School Breakfast Program; and (2) "Qualifying student" means a kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) student enrolled in a public school who is eligible for receipt of a reduced-price meal in a child nutrition program.