HB2462: School boards; school meal policies, student debt, parental notification.
HOUSE BILL NO. 2462
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 22.1-79.7 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 22.1-79.7. School meal policies.
Each local school board shall adopt policies that:
1. Prohibit school board employees from requiring a student
who cannot pay for a meal at school or who owes a school meal debt to do chores
or other work to pay for such meals or wear a wristband or hand stamp; and
2. Require school board employees to direct any communication relating to a school meal debt to the student's parent. Such policy may permit such communication to be made by a letter addressed to the parent to be sent home with the student; and
3. Require the appropriate school board employee to inform the parent of any student who incurs a school meal debt of (i) the amount of such debt no later than 20 days after it accrues and (ii) the consequences of such debt and the school board policy and procedure relating to such debt, including any requirement that such student be served an alternative meal or be required to dispose of meals served to him while such debt remains unpaid.