Florida Senate - 2023                                    SB 1376
       
       
        
       By Senator Rodriguez
       
       
       
       
       
       40-00927A-23                                          20231376__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to school nutrition program
    3         requirements; amending s. 595.405, F.S.; requiring
    4         school districts, upon the request of a certain
    5         student or his or her parent or guardian, to provide
    6         certain alternative meals and snacks to students;
    7         providing cost requirements for such meals and snacks;
    8         authorizing that such request be made at the beginning
    9         of each semester; requiring school districts to
   10         publish information about such alternative snacks and
   11         meals on their websites; providing an effective date.
   12          
   13  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   14  
   15         Section 1. Subsection (9) is added to section 595.405,
   16  Florida Statutes, to read:
   17         595.405 School nutrition program requirements.—
   18         (9) Upon the request of a student who is eligible for free
   19  or reduced-price meals or snacks under the National School Lunch
   20  Program or any other program, or upon the request of his or her
   21  parent or guardian, a school district must provide the student
   22  with a plant-based, kosher, or halal meal or snack that complies
   23  with federal nutrition mandates at the same cost to the student
   24  as a non-plant-based, non-kosher, or non-halal meal or snack.
   25  Each school district must offer at least one plant-based,
   26  kosher, or halal meal or snack for every two non-plant-based,
   27  non-kosher, or non-halal meals or snacks offered. The request by
   28  such student or his or her parent or guardian for an alternative
   29  meal or snack may be made at the beginning of each semester.
   30  Each school district must publish information about meal and
   31  snack alternatives on its website.
   32         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.