SB22-087 (Petterson & Fields/Gonzales-Gutierrez & Michaelson Jenet) Healthy School Meals for All Public School Students
Summary
This bill would create the Healthy School Meals for All program, which would provide school meals to all Colorado students, free of cost, in districts that participate. Districts would be guaranteed 100 percent reimbursement for meals at the federal reimbursement level. School districts that choose to participate in a local procurement grant program would receive funds to purchase food from local farms and ranches to make healthy meals, and would form advisory committees to bring community voice to their school meal programs. Districts could also choose to participate in a grant program to increase pay for their staff who serve and prepare meals for students.
Position
The Children’s Campaign supports this bill. Children need nutritious food to learn and thrive. The Healthy School Meals for All Program would make an investment in the public education of all children. It would ensure all students get the food they need to stay healthy; reduce stigma and divisions between students based on income and time in the lunch line; and lower district administrative costs associated with collecting school meal applications and tracking down school meal debts.
Current Status
The bill was heard in the Senate Education Committee but laid over for amendments and action. Vice President of Education Initiatives, Leslie Colwell, testified in support.
Previous Status
February 4, 2022
The bill was introduced and assigned to the Senate Education Committee.
