1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Pandemic Child Hunger Prevention Act”.
Pandemic Child Hunger Prevention Act
A BILL
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.
2. Reimbursement for meals served during school year 2020–2021
Provisions relating to school year 2020–2021—
Reimbursements during school year 2020–2021— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during school year 2020–2021, in making reimbursements to a State—
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 et seq.), the Secretary shall reimburse such State at the free lunch rate; and
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), the Secretary shall reimburse such State at the free breakfast rate.
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—
in the school lunch program under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) shall be eligible (without application) to receive free lunch under such Act; and
in the school breakfast program under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) shall be eligible (without application) to receive free breakfast under such section.
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)).
Provisions relating to school year 2021–2022—
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)), local educational agencies and States—
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)) not later than April 1, 2021; and
notwithstanding any other provision of law, may use the percentage of identified students—
as of August 31, 2020; or
as of August 31, 2021.
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) during school year 2021–2022, each State shall use the percentage of identified students for such school year determined in accordance with paragraph (1) to determine which schools meet the requirements of subsection (d)(1)(A)(i) of such section 19 (42 U.S.C. 1769a(d)(1)(A)(i)).
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)) for school year 2021–2022—
school year 2020–2021 shall not apply as the previous school year; and
school year 2019–2020 shall apply as the previous school year.
Definitions— In this section:
Free breakfast rate— The term free breakfast rate means the amount equal to—
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)) (as adjusted pursuant to section 11(a) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1759a(a))), plus
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)), the additional payment amount specified under such section (as adjusted pursuant to section 11(a) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1759a(a))), plus
the additional amount under section 4(b)(3) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773(b)(3)).
Free lunch rate— The term free lunch rate means the amount equal to—
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)) (as adjusted pursuant to section 11(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1759a(a))), plus
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)), plus
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)), the additional payment amount specified in subparagraph (C)(i) of such section (as adjusted pursuant to section 11(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1759a(a))), plus
the applicable special assistance factor under section 11(a)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1759a(a)(2)) (as adjusted pursuant to section 11(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1759a(a))).
Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.
3. Eligibility under other child nutrition programs during school year 2020–2021
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 et seq.) or in the school breakfast program under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) shall be treated under a qualified child nutrition program as a child certified eligible (without application) for free school meals.
Qualified child nutrition program defined— In this section, the term qualified child nutrition program means—
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));
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)); and
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).