CA AB3043

Authorizes school districts, county offices of education, charter schools, private nonprofit schools, and residential child care institutions participating in the federal School Breakfast Program to provide universal breakfast (free meals to all pupils) starting with the 2019-20 school year, subject to department approval and using nonfederal funds to cover costs above federal reimbursement.

Exempts educational entities from submitting approval applications if they participate in federal provisions that already authorize universal breakfast, including Provision 1, 2, or 3, or the Community Eligibility Provision of the federal school lunch law.

Revises nutritional quality requirements to align with the most current federal School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program meal patterns, and requires the department to monitor schools to ensure meals qualify for federal reimbursement rather than simply meeting the highest quality standards.

Authorizes school district governing boards to charge the cost of universal breakfast and mobile food facilities to the cafeteria fund, with mobile food facility purchases requiring prior department approval and restriction to supporting federal child nutrition programs if funded from the cafeteria fund.

Updates grant program language to specify grants of up to $15,000 per schoolsite can be used for "federal summer meals program" instead of "summer food service program," expanding eligible uses.