CA AB2360

State Department of Education shall collaborate with Department of Food and Agriculture (including Office of Farm to Fork), State Department of Public Health, State Department of Social Services, and other relevant entities to develop best practices for school districts to partner with food banks and increase pupil access to fresh produce and healthy foods.

Best practices must address food bank partnership creation, school district roles and responsibilities, CalFresh benefit promotion, methods for increasing access to fresh foods outside school hours (including school pantries and holiday food packages), dietary deficiencies in food-insecure children, food handling and donation regulations, transportation and food safety, and available federal and state resources.

State Department of Education and Office of Farm to Fork must each post the best practices on their respective websites by January 1, 2020.

State Department of Education must disseminate the best practices to all school districts by July 1, 2020.

Bill aims to reduce pupil hunger and food insecurity outside of standard school hours, particularly in low-income and immigrant communities.