AZ SB1416

Schools must ensure pupils with unpaid meal fees are not shamed, treated differently, or served different meals than pupils without debt, except for dietary or religious reasons.

School personnel cannot use disciplinary action that denies or delays meals meeting nutrition standards to pupils during the instructional day.

Schools cannot require pupils to perform chores or work to pay for meals or to cover unpaid meal fees.

Schools must notify parents or guardians of negative meal account balances within 10 days and provide free or reduced-price meal applications before sending notification; schools may attempt collection but cannot use debt collectors.

School districts and charter schools may establish meal fee debt funds from donations or gifts to pay outstanding pupil meal fees.