ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5164

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 8, 2023

      The Assembly Education committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 5164.

     The bill directs, at the beginning of each school year, and upon initial enrollment in the case of a student enrolling during the school year, a school district to require the parent or guardian of each student to either submit an application to apply for the National School Lunch Program and the federal School Breakfast Program or submit a signed card provided by the school district indicating that the parent or guardian has received the application and information and is not interested in participating in the school lunch and school breakfast programs.  If the school district does not receive an application or a signed card, the school district is required to make at least one attempt to contact the student’s parent or guardian and request that the parent submit either an application or signed card.

     The bill also requires that the information and application  distributed to students’ parents and guardians on the school lunch and school breakfast programs by school districts be provided in a hard copy format and include a notice that an application may be submitted at any time during the school year and is required to be submitted annually.  School districts may also provide information in electronic form. 

     The provisions of the bill will not apply to schools which participate in the Community Eligibility Provision.

     As reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 5164 is identical to Senate Bill No. 530 (1R), which was also reported by the committee on this date.