SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2849

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

      The Senate Education Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 2849.

     This bill directs the Department of Agriculture, due to the public health-related school closures during the COVID-19 public health emergency, to request from the United States Department of Agriculture the necessary waivers to authorize participating schools or providers to:

     1)    extend the implementation of the Summer Food Service Program throughout the calendar year;

     2)    provide emergency food, non-congregate feeding services, and grab-and-go meals with no time restrictions under the Summer Food Service Program, the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program, or any other child and adult community food programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture; and

     3)    offer food, meals or other services through any of those programs on the grounds of a school, notwithstanding any restrictions otherwise imposed on providing the programs and services on school grounds.

     The bill defines “participating school” as a school that provides food and meals through the Summer Food Service Program, the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program, or any other child and adult community food programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture.