NC H550

Requires local boards of education to provide breakfast and lunch at no cost to all students in public school units who elect to receive these meals, effective July 1, 2021.

Establishes the North Carolina School Breakfast and Lunch Fund as a special revenue fund administered by the State Board of Education through the Department of Public Instruction, funded by individual taxpayer designations of $3.00 and voluntary donations.

Allocates $200,000,000 in nonrecurring funds for the 2021-2022 fiscal year and $200,000,000 in recurring funds for the 2022-2023 fiscal year from the General Fund to cover free breakfast and lunch costs.

Requires public school units to survey students before each school year to determine participation numbers and report to the Department of Public Instruction within 30 days of school year start.

Extends free breakfast and lunch requirements to charter schools, innovative schools, regional schools, laboratory schools, and other school entities participating in federally assisted nutrition programs.