HB2013: School boards; board policy for students unable to pay for a meal at school.


HOUSE BILL NO. 2013
House Amendments in [ ] – January 27, 2021
A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-79.7 of the Code of Virginia, relating to school board policies; school meal debt; enforcement.
Patron Prior to Engrossment--Delegate Roem

Referred to Committee on Education

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; donations.

A. 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 throw away or discard a meal after it has been served to him, 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. Prohibit the school board from filing a lawsuit against a [ student or the ] student's parent because the student cannot pay for a meal at school or owes a school meal debt.

B. Any school board may solicit and receive any donation or other funds for the purpose of eliminating or offsetting any school meal debt at any time and shall use any such funds solely for such purpose.

HOUSE BILL NO. 2013

Offered January 13, 2021
Prefiled January 11, 2021
A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-79.7 of the Code of Virginia, relating to school board policies; school meal debt; enforcement.

Patrons-- Roem, Adams, D.M., Ayala, Bagby, Carr, Carter, Cole, J.G., Filler-Corn, Guzman, Helmer, Hope, Hudson, Keam, Kory, Krizek, Levine, Lopez, Murphy, Plum, Rasoul, Reid, Samirah, Scott, Simon, Simonds, Subramanyam, Tyler and Willett

Referred to Committee on Education

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; donations.

A. 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 throw away or discard a meal after it has been served to him, 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. Prohibit the school board from filing a lawsuit against a student's parent because the student cannot pay for a meal at school or owes a school meal debt.

B. Any school board may solicit and receive any donation or other funds for the purpose of eliminating or offsetting any school meal debt at any time and shall use any such funds solely for such purpose.