CA AB292

School districts must ensure each school provides pupils adequate time to eat lunch after being served, defined as 20 minutes minimum.

Schools must annually review bell schedules and develop implementation plans to increase lunch eating time if they currently fall short of the 20-minute standard.

School districts and county offices of education may use federally or state-regulated nonprofit school food service cafeteria accounts to cover costs of complying with adequate lunch time requirements, in accordance with federal and state law.

Establishes legislative intent that schools provide pupils with adequate time to eat lunch, recognizing that insufficient time results in wasted nutritious meals and reduced lunch program participation.

Constitutes a state-mandated local program; if the Commission on State Mandates determines costs are mandated by the state, reimbursement shall be made pursuant to Government Code provisions.