8. a. Not more than 180 days after the effective date of P.L.2023, c.336 (C.18A:33-14.2 et al.), the Office of the Food Security Advocate, established pursuant to P.L.2021, c.242 (C.52:27J-1 et seq.), shall establish a Working Group on School Food Security to identify and develop best practices, policies, and plans, and to take other appropriate action, to promote and facilitate the effective functioning of the State's school meals programs and the expanded provision, thereunder, of free school meals to students in the State. b. Within one year after its formation pursuant to subsection a. of this section, and on a regular basis thereafter as deemed by the food security advocate to be appropriate, the Working Group on School Food Security shall:
(1)conduct a study on school food security
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8. a. Not more than 180 days after the effective date of P.L.2023, c.336 (C.18A:33-14.2 et al.), the Office of the Food Security Advocate, established pursuant to P.L.2021, c.242 (C.52:27J-1 et seq.), shall establish a Working Group on School Food Security to identify and develop best practices, policies, and plans, and to take other appropriate action, to promote and facilitate the effective functioning of the State's school meals programs and the expanded provision, thereunder, of free school meals to students in the State. b. Within one year after its formation pursuant to subsection a. of this section, and on a regular basis thereafter as deemed by the food security advocate to be appropriate, the Working Group on School Food Security shall: (1) conduct a study on school food security issues, in accordance with the provisions of subsection c. of this section, and recommend further State-level action to facilitate the provision of free school meals to enhanced numbers or categories of students in the State; and (2) develop and publish a plan to facilitate and promote the adoption, by the United States Congress and President, of federal legislation authorizing the nationwide provision of free school meals to all students in the country, and providing federal reimbursement for all such meals served by schools and school districts in the states. c. When conducting a school food security study, pursuant to subsection b. of this section, the working group shall be required to determine and identify: (1) the expected annual costs to be expended, by each participating school district and nonpublic school in the State, in providing free school meals to eligible students in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, including the amount by which such costs are expected to increase year-over-year; (2) best practices to ensure the effective provision of school meals to students in the State, including, but not limited to, best practices to facilitate the non-stigmatizing provision of free school meals to all eligible students in the State, best practices to reduce food waste in schools, best practices to improve and facilitate the subsidized school meals application and certification processes that are used to certify students for free meals; and best practices for incentivizing the completion of subsidized school meals applications by parents and guardians of students in the State; (3) policies and practices that have been employed by other states and jurisdictions to facilitate and enhance student access to free school meals in those other jurisdictions, and the extent to which such policies and practices have been successful in achieving their stated goals; and (4) whether, and the extent to which, it would be feasible, beneficial, and fiscally responsible for the Legislature to take action to further expand student eligibility for free school meals under this chapter, following the effective date of P.L.2023, c.336 (C.18A:33-14.2 et al.), and whether, and the extent to which, such expansion of the State's free school meals programs would best be effectuated on an immediate basis, by extending eligibility to all students in the State, or on a phased-in basis, by extending eligibility to gradually increasing numbers and types of students in the State. d. Not more than 60 days after the working group completes a school food security study, pursuant to subsection b. of this section, the working group shall submit, to the Secretary of Agriculture, the Commissioner of Education, the Governor, and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature, a written report of its findings and recommendations from the study, including, at a minimum, its recommendations regarding the appropriate executive, legislative, and other actions, if any, that should be undertaken in the State to ensure the ongoing successful operation of the State's school meals programs, to facilitate the cost-effective provision of free school meals to students who are categorically eligible or income-eligible therefore, as provided by this chapter, and to further expand the categories of students who are eligible for such free school meals under State law. L.2023, c.336, s.8.