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79R7888 KKA-D

By:  Rodriguez                                                    H.B. No. 2578



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to providing the national free or reduced-price breakfast 
and lunch program to a greater number of public school students.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, is amended by 
adding Section 12.039 to read as follows:
	Sec. 12.039.  SCHOOL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH PROGRAM.  (a)   The 
department shall develop a formula to be used in determining the 
percentage of a school district's students that would be required 
to be eligible for the national free or reduced-price breakfast and 
lunch program established under 42 U.S.C. Section 1751 et seq., 
before the district could provide under the program, without 
additional cost to the district, free breakfast and lunch to all 
students enrolled at each campus in the district, regardless of 
family income.
	(b)  Using the formula developed under Subsection (a), the 
department shall:
		(1)  identify each school district that could provide 
free meals to all students without additional cost but has not 
chosen to act in that manner; and
		(2)  encourage each district identified under 
Subdivision (1) to provide free meals to all students.
	(c)  The department, the Texas Education Agency, and the 
Health and Human Services Commission shall ensure that applicable 
information maintained by each entity is used on at least a monthly 
basis to  identify children who are categorically eligible for free 
meals under the national free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch 
program established under 42 U.S.C. Section 1751 et seq.
	SECTION 2.  Section 12.039(c), Agriculture Code, as added by 
this Act, applies beginning with the 2005-2006 school year.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.