ND HB1494

School districts participating in the federal Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act must adopt and publish a school meals policy on their website.

Schools may not deny a reimbursable meal to a student who requests one unless a parent or guardian provides written permission, and may not serve alternative meals to students with unpaid balances or insufficient funds.

Schools are prohibited from disposing of food already served to a child, identifying or stigmatizing students based on meal payment status, or limiting student participation in activities, graduation ceremonies, field trips, athletics, or clubs due to unpaid meal debt.

Schools may not require students to perform services or work to pay for meal debt but may contact parents directly about unpaid balances or deliver sealed letters about debt without stigmatizing the child.

Schools must adopt policies to encourage or provide incentives for parents to apply for free or reduced meals, including when students have unpaid meal debt.