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HB335
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
335
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to education
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION 1.
�
Chapter 302A,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to subpart C of
part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
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"
�302A-
�
Free
school lunch pilot program.
�
(a)
�
T
he
department shall develop and implement a pilot program that,
beginning with the 2025-2026 school year,
provides free school lunches to all students enrolled at a department
school.
�
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(b)
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The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 for the
administration and operation of the free school lunch pilot program.
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(c)
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The department shall submit an interim report on:
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(1)
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The
department's progress in implementing the free school lunch pilot program;
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(2)
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Preliminary
results of the free school lunch pilot program; and
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(3)
�
The
department's findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation,
to the
legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular
session of
2026.
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(d)
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The department shall submit a final report of its findings and
recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no
later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of
2027.
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The report shall include the results of the
free school lunch pilot program and a recommendation as to whether the program
should be made permanent, with or without modifications.
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(e)
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The free school lunch pilot program shall terminate on June 30, 2027
.
"
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SECTION
2
.
�
Section 302A-404, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:
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"
�302A-404
�
School meals[
.
]
;
free school lunch.
�
(a)
�
School meals shall be made
available under the school meals program in every school where the students are
required to eat meals at school.
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(b)
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Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year,
free school lunch shall be provided to every
student enrolled at a department school.
�
Free school lunch shall meet the
meal requirements for lunches established pursuant to title 7 Code of Federal
Regulations section 210.10.
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[
(b)
]
(c)
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No student shall be denied a
meal solely for failure to pay:
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(1)
�
Within the first twenty-one days of the
first semester of a school year while the student's application for free or
reduced lunch is being processed; or
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(2)
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Within seven days after a student's
meal fund account reaches a zero or negative balance.
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[
(c)
]
(d)
�
The department may adopt
rules or policies governing the collection of funds for student meal accounts
with a negative fund balance; provided that no rule or policy shall prohibit
feeding a student as required pursuant to subsection (b).
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(e)
�
It is the intent of this section not to
jeopardize the receipt of any federal aid and to the extent, and only to the
extent necessary to effectuate this intent, the governor may modify the strict
provisions of this section, but shall promptly report any modification with the
governor's reasons therefor to the next succeeding session of the legislature
for review.
"
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SECTION
3
.
�
Section 302A-405, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
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"
(a)
�
[
The
]
Except as provided in section
302A-404(b), the
price for school meals shall be set by the department to
ensure that moneys received from the sale of the meals shall be not less than
one-half of the cost of preparing the meals.
�
The prices for school meals may be adjusted annually based on the
previous year's costs rounded to the nearest five cents; provided that the
department by rule shall provide a lower rate or free meals to children based
on their economic need.
"
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SECTION 4.
�
There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $ or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or
so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the school
food services branch of the department of education for total plate costs
associated with the free school lunch pilot program established by this Act,
after federal funding has been accounted.
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The sums
appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for
the purposes of this Act.
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SECTION 5.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory material is underscored.
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SECTION 6.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025, and shall be repealed on
June 30, 2027; provided that sections 302A-404 and 302A-405, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which they read before the
effective date of this Act.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
DOE;
Pilot Program; Free School Lunches; Reports; Appropriations
Description:
Establishes
a two-year pilot program that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year,
requires the Department of Education to provide free school lunch to all
students enrolled at a department school.
�
Requires reports to the Legislature.
�
Appropriates funds.
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Repeals on 6/30/2027.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.