HB567 - Relating to school district grace period policies and the provision of meals to public school students with insufficient balances on prepaid meal cards or in meal accounts.

  89R3428 RDR-F     By: Bernal H.B. No. 567       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to school district grace period policies and the provision   of meals to public school students with insufficient balances on   prepaid meal cards or in meal accounts.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 33.908, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 33.908.  GRACE PERIOD POLICY FOR EXHAUSTED OR   INSUFFICIENT MEAL CARD OR ACCOUNT BALANCE. (a) In this section,   "regular meal" means a meal for which a school district ordinarily   receives reimbursement under the national free or reduced-price   lunch program established under 42 U.S.C. Section 1751 et seq.           (b)   The board of trustees of a school district that allows   students to use a prepaid meal card or account to purchase meals   served at schools in the district shall adopt a grace period policy   regarding the use of the cards or accounts. The policy:                (1)  must allow a student whose meal card or account   balance is exhausted or insufficient to continue, for a period   determined by the board of at least one week , to purchase regular   meals by:                      (A)  accumulating a negative balance on the   student's card or account; or                      (B)  otherwise receiving an extension of credit   from the district;                (2)  must require the district to make at least three   attempts during the period described by Subdivision (1) to   privately:                       (A)   notify the parent of or person standing in   parental relation to the student that the student's meal card or   account balance is exhausted , including by sending home with the   student in an unmarked envelope a written notice of a negative   balance or other amount due and an application for free or   reduced-price meals ;                       (B)     make arrangements with the parent or other   person for payment of negative balances or amounts otherwise due,   including through use of a payment plan; and                       (C)     assist the parent or other person in   completing an application on behalf of the student for free or   reduced-price meals, if it is determined that the student may be   eligible for free or reduced-price meals;                (3)  may not permit the district to charge a fee or   interest in connection with meals purchased under Subdivision (1);   and                (4)  may permit the district to set a schedule for   repayment on the account balance or other amount due if the district   is unable to set a repayment schedule by agreement through efforts   required under Subdivision (2) [ as part of the notice to the parent   or person standing in parental relation to the student ].           (c)     After expiration of the period described by Subsection   (b)(1) and completion of duties required under Subsection (b)(2),   the school district shall continue to provide to the student   regular meals as described by Subsection (b)(1) at no cost to the   student.           (d)     If a school district is unable to obtain payment   sufficient to cover the negative balance or extension of credit on a   student's meal card or account from the student's parent or a person   standing in parental relation to the student before the end of the   school year, the district:                 (1)     may apply toward the negative balance or credit   private donations solicited for that purpose and maintained in a   separate district account;                 (2)     shall provide the parent or other person with an   application on behalf of the student for free or reduced-price   meals, if the district determines that the student may be eligible   for free or reduced-price meals in the subsequent school year; and                 (3)     may not transfer a negative balance on a student's   meal card or account to the meal card or account held by the student   in a subsequent school year.           (e)     A school district may not require a student to repeat a   grade level, prevent a student from graduating, withhold a diploma   from a student, or prohibit a student from participating in   school-related activity due to a negative balance or extension of   credit on the student's meal card or account.           (f)     A school district may not publicly identify a student   with a negative balance or extension of credit on a meal card or   account and must implement an action authorized under this section   in a manner that does not stigmatize or cause embarrassment to a   student.          SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026   school year.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.