A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds to ensure that SCHOOL nutrition PROGRAMS PARTICIPATING in the NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM IN PREKINDERGARTEN AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS have adequate funds to implement nutrition standards.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) for the 2017‑2018 fiscal year to enable school nutrition programs in prekindergarten and elementary schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program to implement nutrition standards adopted by the State Board of Education for elementary schools. These funds shall be allotted to each local school administrative unit based on the number of reimbursable lunches served to students in prekindergarten and elementary schools. These funds shall be disbursed on a monthly basis based on a monthly claim for reimbursement. Local school administrative units shall use these funds to implement the nutrition standards required by the National School Lunch Program in prekindergarten and elementary schools and to improve the overall operation of its school nutrition program. These funds may be used only to purchase food, equipment, and supplies and to pay the salaries and benefits of school nutrition personnel directly employed in the operation of the school nutrition program.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2017, and applies beginning with the 2017‑2018 school year.