SB 1036 Summary

• Prohibits schools from shaming, treating differently, or serving alternative meals to pupils with unpaid meal fees, except for dietary or religious accommodations.

• Prevents school personnel from using disciplinary action that denies or delays meals meeting nutrition standards to any pupil.

• Prohibits schools from requiring pupils to perform chores or work to pay for meals or to cover unpaid meal fees.

• Requires schools to notify parents/guardians of negative meal account balances within 10 days and to first attempt direct certification for free or reduced-price meals before sending notification.

• Allows schools to collect unpaid meal fees from parents/guardians but prohibits using debt collectors; permits school districts and charter schools to establish meal fee debt funds from donations.