HI HB2402

Makes an emergency appropriation from general revenues to the Department of Education for fiscal year 2023-2024 to cover food service operations (specific dollar amount not filled in).

Authorizes the appropriation to address an accumulated deficit of over $20,000,000 in the department's food service operations, largely caused by inflationary cost increases of 42 percent in food costs during school year 2022-2023.

Provides justification that the department serves approximately 20,000 school breakfasts and 80,000 school lunches daily, with Title I students receiving meals free of charge and no students denied meals due to inability to pay.

Declares that the general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2023-2024 will be exceeded by this appropriation due to the public interest in maintaining school meal services (specific ceiling amounts not filled in).

Takes effect on July 1, 3000 (note: effective date appears to contain a clerical error in the bill text).