HF 1682

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/06/2023 07:02pm

A bill for an act
relating to education; authorizing Minnesota schools to serve two percent and
whole milk to kindergarten students as part of the state-sponsored school milk
program; requiring the commissioners of education and agriculture to report to
the legislature on additional milk options for participants in the national school
meals programs; increasing funding for the kindergarten milk program;
appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 124D.118.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 124D.118, is amended to read:

124D.118 SCHOOL MILK PROGRAM.

Subdivision 1.

Legislative findings.

new text begin (a) new text end The legislature finds that for best health and
well-being, school children in the state should receive at least one serving of milk each day.

new text begin (b) new text end The school milk program established in this section is to provide districts in the state
with added resources so that all kindergarten students in public and nonpublic schools may
have access to wholesome milk on a daily basis.

new text begin (c) The legislature further finds that milk fats found in whole milk and two percent milk
provide health and nutritional benefits for many school children.
new text end

Subd. 2.

Establishment; school participation.

Each district in the state is encouraged
to participate in the state-supported school milk program for kindergartners. new text begin Kindergarten
milk provided under this section may include whole milk and two percent milk as well as
one percent milk and skim milk currently authorized under the United States Department
of Agriculture's national school meals program. new text end Participating districts must provide one
serving of milk on each school day to each kindergarten student attending a public or
nonpublic school in the district. No student is required to accept the milk that is provided
by the district. The program must be promoted and operated under the direction of the
commissioner or the commissioner's designee.

Subd. 3.

Program guidelines; duties of the commissioner.

(a) The commissioner shall:

(1) encourage all districts to participate in the school milk program for kindergartners;

(2) prepare program guidelines, not subject to chapter 14 until July 1, 1998, which will
effectively and efficiently distribute appropriated and donated money to participating
districts; and

(3) seek donations and matching funds from appropriate private and public sources.

(b) Program guidelines may provide for disbursement to districts through a mechanism
of prepayments or by reimbursement for approved program expenses.

Subd. 4.

Reimbursement.

In accordance with program guidelines, the commissioner
shall reimburse each participating public or nonpublic school deleted text begin 20 deleted text end new text begin 30 new text end cents for each half-pint
of milk that is served to kindergarten students and is not part of a school lunch or breakfast
reimbursed under section 124D.111 or 124D.1158.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2023.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin SCHOOL MILK RECOMMENDATIONS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Commissioners of agriculture and education. new text end

new text begin The commissioners of
agriculture and education must evaluate approaches to expand options under the United
States Department of Agriculture's school meals program administered by the Department
of Education to include two percent milk and whole milk in the products served as part of
school meals.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Activities. new text end

new text begin The commissioners must consult with milk producers, child nutrition
experts, and legal experts about ways to offer whole milk and two percent milk products as
part of the school meals program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin By January 15, 2024, the commissioners must prepare and submit a
written report summarizing their findings to the legislative committees having jurisdiction
over agricultural issues and school meals programs. The report must be filed according to
Minnesota Statutes, section 3.195.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2023.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION; SCHOOL MILK.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Department of Education. new text end

new text begin The sums indicated in this section are
appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education in the fiscal years
designated.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Kindergarten milk. new text end

new text begin For kindergarten milk aid under Minnesota Statutes,
section 124D.118:
new text end

	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2024 new text end
	new text begin $ new text end	new text begin ....... new text end	new text begin ..... new text end	new text begin 2025 new text end