Act No. 87

(H.408)

Human services; education; nutrition; assistance; summer meals; snacks

This act expands access to federally funded nutrition programs for low-income Vermonters by requiring:

· the department for children and families to maximize participation of seniors and people with disabilities through federal options or waivers

· after-school programs funded with 21st Century funds to partner with school districts to provide snack programs for low-income children

· the Hunger Task Force to look at methods for further expanding federally funded snack programs

· schools with at least 50 percent of students receiving free or reduced-price meals that offer summer educational or recreational programs for 15 or more hours a week to provide summer meals

o schools may apply for an exemption to this requirement using the same criteria as the exemption for school lunch programs

· the department of education to track and by October 1, 2010, to report on schools offering summer educational or recreational programs

· the department of education and the department for children and families to continue to improve the process of automatically finding a child eligible for school lunch if the family receives 3SquaresVT or other benefits as provided for under federal law

Date Signed by the Governor:  April 28, 2010

Effective Date:  On passage (April 28, 2010, the date on which the governor signed the bill)