HB 2353 Summary

• Prohibits public schools from shaming, treating differently, or serving different meals to pupils with unpaid school meal fees compared to pupils without debt.

• Prevents school personnel from taking disciplinary action that denies or delays meals meeting state nutrition standards.

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

• Requires schools to notify parents/guardians within 10 days of negative meal account balance and provide free/reduced-price meal applications before collection attempts.

• Allows schools to attempt fee collection directly but prohibits using debt collectors, and permits school districts to establish meal fee debt funds from donations.