HF 3215

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 03/01/2010 08:56am

A bill for an act
relating to education; requiring equal treatment of students eligible for free
or reduced price meals; prohibiting certain collection activities; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 124D.111, by adding subdivisions.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 124D.111, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Discrimination against children eligible for school lunch. new text end

new text begin No school
district, charter school, nonpublic school, or other participant in the national school lunch
program that receives state funding under subdivision 1 may:
new text end

new text begin (1) physically segregate, discriminate against, or in any way stigmatize any child
eligible for a free or reduced price lunch;
new text end

new text begin (2) make any overt or distinguishable identification of a child eligible for free
or reduced price lunch through special lines, tickets, alternative meals, announced or
published lists of names, or any other publicly identifiable means; or
new text end

new text begin (3) deny lunch to a child eligible for reduced price lunch who lacks sufficient funds
or has unpaid lunch debts.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2010.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 124D.111, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Collection of unpaid lunch debts. new text end

new text begin (a) No entity attempting to collect
unpaid school lunch debts from households may:
new text end

new text begin (1) take any action directed at a child in the household, including withholding
educational opportunities or engaging in any behavior prohibited under subdivision 4; or
new text end

new text begin (2) associate or contract with, or in any other way utilize or employ the services of,
a collection agency, as defined in section 332.31, subdivision 3, to attempt to collect
unpaid lunch debts from households.
new text end

new text begin (b) An entity collecting or attempting collection of unpaid school lunch debts from
households must comply with section 332.37.
new text end

new text begin (c) new text end new text begin A household alleging violation by a school of section 332.37, has the rights
provided under section 332.39.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2010.
new text end