1994 US Code
Title 42 - THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
CHAPTER 13 - SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAMS
Sec. 1758 - Program requirements

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§1758. Program requirements (a) Nutritional standards; medical and special dietary needs of individual students; compliance assistance; fluid milk and lowfat cheese; diminution of food waste; acceptance of offered foods

(1)(A) Lunches served by schools participating in the school lunch program under this chapter shall meet minimum nutritional requirements prescribed by the Secretary on the basis of tested nutritional research, except that the minimum nutritional requirements—

(i) shall not be construed to prohibit the substitution of foods to accommodate the medical or other special dietary needs of individual students; and

(ii) shall, at a minimum, be based on the weekly average of the nutrient content of school lunches.

(B) The Secretary shall provide technical assistance and training, including technical assistance and training in the preparation of lower-fat versions of foods commonly used in the school lunch program under this chapter, to schools participating in the school lunch program to assist the schools in complying with the nutritional requirements prescribed by the Secretary pursuant to subparagraph (A) and in providing appropriate meals to children with medically certified special dietary needs. The Secretary shall provide additional technical assistance to schools that are having difficulty maintaining compliance with the requirements.

(2)(A) Lunches served by schools participating in the school lunch program under this chapter—

(i) shall offer students fluid milk; and

(ii) shall offer students a variety of fluid milk consistent with prior year preferences unless the prior year preference for any such variety of fluid milk is less than 1 percent of the total milk consumed at the school.

(B)(i) The Secretary shall purchase in each calendar year to carry out the school lunch program under this chapter, and the school breakfast program under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773), lowfat cheese on a bid basis in a quantity that is the milkfat equivalent of the quantity of milkfat the Secretary estimates the Commodity Credit Corporation will purchase each calendar year as a result of the elimination of the requirement that schools offer students fluid whole milk and fluid unflavored lowfat milk, based on data provided by the Director of Office of Management and Budget.

(ii) Not later than 30 days after the Secretary provides an estimate required under clause (i), the Director of the Congressional Budget Office shall provide to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on whether the Director concurs with the estimate of the Secretary.

(iii) The quantity of lowfat cheese that is purchased under this subparagraph shall be in addition to the quantity of cheese that is historically purchased by the Secretary to carry out school feeding programs. The Secretary shall take such actions as are necessary to ensure that purchases under this subparagraph shall not displace commercial purchases of cheese by schools.

(3) The Secretary shall establish, in cooperation with State educational agencies, administrative procedures, which shall include local educational agency and student participation, designed to diminish waste of foods which are served by schools participating in the school lunch program under this chapter without endangering the nutritional integrity of the lunches served by such schools.

(4) Students in senior high schools that participate in the school lunch program under this chapter (and, when approved by the local school district or nonprofit private schools, students in any other grade level) shall not be required to accept offered foods they do not intend to consume, and any such failure to accept offered foods shall not affect the full charge to the student for a lunch meeting the requirements of this subsection or the amount of payments made under this chapter to any such school for such lunch.

(b) Income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced price school lunches; duty of Secretary; time to prescribe; relationship to other poverty guidelines; revision; publication; application, verification and approval; use or disclosure of eligibility information; maximum reduced price; nondiscrimination or identification of recipients

(1)(A) Not later than June 1 of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall prescribe income guidelines for determining eligibility for free and reduced price lunches during the 12-month period beginning July 1 of such fiscal year and ending June 30 of the following fiscal year. The income guidelines for determining eligibility for free lunches shall be 130 percent of the applicable family size income levels contained in the nonfarm income poverty guidelines prescribed by the Office of Management and Budget, as adjusted annually in accordance with subparagraph (B). The income guidelines for determining eligibility for reduced price lunches for any school year shall be 185 percent of the applicable family size income levels contained in the nonfarm income poverty guidelines prescribed by the Office of Management and Budget, as adjusted annually in accordance with subparagraph (B). The Office of Management and Budget guidelines shall be revised at annual intervals, or at any shorter interval deemed feasible and desirable.

(B) The revision required by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall be made by multiplying—

(i) the official poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management and Budget); by

(ii) the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index during the annual or other interval immediately preceding the time at which the adjustment is made.

Revisions under this subparagraph shall be made not more than 30 days after the date on which the consumer price index data required to compute the adjustment becomes available.

(2)(A) Following the determination by the Secretary under paragraph (1) of this subsection of the income eligibility guidelines for each school year, each State educational agency shall announce the income eligibility guidelines, by family size, to be used by schools in the State in making determinations of eligibility for free and reduced price lunches. Local school authorities shall, each year, publicly announce the income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced price lunches on or before the opening of school.

(B) Applications for free and reduced price lunches, in such form as the Secretary may prescribe or approve, and any descriptive material, shall be distributed to the parents or guardians of children in attendance at the school, and shall contain only the family size income levels for reduced price meal eligibility with the explanation that households with incomes less than or equal to these values would be eligible for free or reduced price lunches. Such forms and descriptive material may not contain the income eligibility guidelines for free lunches.

(C)(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), each eligibility determination shall be made on the basis of a complete application executed by an adult member of the household. The Secretary, State, or local food authority may verify any data contained in such application. A local school food authority shall undertake such verification of information contained in any such application as the Secretary may by regulation prescribe and, in accordance with such regulations, shall make appropriate changes in the eligibility determination with respect to such application on the basis of such verification.

(ii) Subject to clause (iii), any school food authority may certify any child as eligible for free or reduced price lunches or breakfasts, without further application, by directly communicating with the appropriate State or local agency to obtain documentation of such child's status as a member of—

(I) a household that is receiving food stamps under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 [7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.]; or

(II) a family that is receiving assistance under the program for aid to families with dependent children under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.].

(iii) The use or disclosure of any information obtained from an application for free or reduced price meals, or from a State or local agency referred to in clause (ii), shall be limited to—

(I) a person directly connected with the administration or enforcement of this chapter or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), or a regulation issued pursuant to either this chapter or such Act;

(II) a person directly connected with the administration or enforcement of—

(aa) a Federal education program;

(bb) a State health or education program administered by the State or local educational agency (other than a program carried out under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.)); or

(cc) a Federal, State, or local means-tested nutrition program with eligibility standards comparable to the program under this section; and

(III)(aa) the Comptroller General of the United States for audit and examination authorized by any other provision of law; and

(bb) notwithstanding any other provision of law, a Federal, State, or local law enforcement official for the purpose of investigating an alleged violation of any program covered by paragraph (1) or this paragraph.

(iv) Information provided under clause (iii)(II) shall be limited to the income eligibility status of the child for whom application for free or reduced price meal benefits was made or for whom eligibility information was provided under clause (ii), unless the consent of the parent or guardian of the child for whom application for benefits was made is obtained.

(v) A person described in clause (iii) who publishes, divulges, discloses, or makes known in any manner, or to any extent not authorized by Federal law (including a regulation), any information obtained under this subsection shall be fined not more than ,000 or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.

(3) Any child who is a member of a household whose income, at the time the application is submitted, is at an annual rate which does not exceed the applicable family size income level of the income eligibility guidelines for free lunches, as determined under paragraph (1), shall be served a free lunch. Any child who is a member of a household whose income, at the time the application is submitted, is at an annual rate greater than the applicable family size income level of the income eligibility guidelines for free lunches, as determined under paragraph (1), but less than or equal to the applicable family size income level of the income eligibility guidelines for reduced price lunches, as determined under paragraph (1), shall be served a reduced price lunch. The price charged for a reduced price lunch shall not exceed 40 cents.

(4) No physical segregation of or other discrimination against any child eligible for a free lunch or a reduced price lunch under this subsection shall be made by the school nor shall there by 1 any overt identification of any child by special tokens or tickets, announced or published lists of names, or by other means.

(5) Any child who has a parent or guardian who (A) is responsible for the principal support of such child and (B) is unemployed shall be served a free or reduced price lunch, respectively, during any period (i) in which such child's parent or guardian continues to be unemployed and (ii) the income of the child's parents or guardians during such period of unemployment falls within the income eligibility criteria for free lunches or reduced price lunches, respectively, based on the current rate of income of such parents or guardians. Local school authorities shall publicly announce that such children are eligible for a free or reduced price lunch, and shall make determinations with respect to the status of any parent or guardian of any child under clauses (A) and (B) of the preceding sentence on the basis of a statement executed in such form as the Secretary may prescribe by such parent or guardian. No physical segregation of, or other discrimination against, any child eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under this paragraph shall be made by the school nor shall there be any overt identification of any such child by special tokens or tickets, announced or published lists of names, or by any other means.

(6)(A) A child shall be considered automatically eligible for a free lunch and breakfast under this chapter and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), respectively, without further application or eligibility determination, if the child is—

(i) a member of a household receiving assistance under the food stamp program authorized under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.);

(ii) a member of an AFDC assistance unit (under the aid to families with dependent children program authorized under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)), in a State where the standard of eligibility for the assistance does not exceed 130 percent of the poverty line (as defined in section 9902(2) of this title); or

(iii) enrolled as a participant in a Head Start program authorized under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.), on the basis of a determination that the child is a member of a family that meets the low-income criteria prescribed under section 645(a)(1)(A) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840(a)(1)(A)).

(B) Proof of receipt of food stamps or aid to families with dependent children, or of enrollment or participation in a Head Start program on the basis described in subparagraph (A)(iii), shall be sufficient to satisfy any verification requirement imposed under paragraph (2)(C).

(c) Donation and maximum utilization of agricultural commodities; applicability to nonprofit private schools

School lunch programs under this chapter shall be operated on a nonprofit basis. Each school shall, insofar as practicable, utilize in its lunch program commodities designated from time to time by the Secretary as being in abundance, either nationally or in the school area or commodities donated by the Secretary. Commodities purchased under the authority of section 612c of title 7, may be donated by the Secretary to schools, in accordance with the needs as determined by local school authorities, for utilization in the school lunch program under this chapter as well as to other schools carrying out nonprofit school lunch programs and institutions authorized to receive such commodities. The Secretary is authorized to prescribe terms and conditions respecting the use of commodities donated under such section 612c of title 7, under section 1431 of title 7 and under section 1446a–1 of title 7, as will maximize the nutritional and financial contributions of such donated commodities in such schools and institutions. The requirements of this section relating to the service of meals without cost or at a reduced cost shall apply to the lunch program of any school utilizing commodities donated under any of the provisions of law referred to in the preceding sentence. None of the requirements of this section in respect to the amount for “reduced cost” meals and to eligibility for meals without cost shall apply to schools (as defined in section 1760(d)(6) 2 of this title which are private and nonprofit as defined in the last sentence of section 1760(d)(6) 2 of this title) which participate in the school lunch program under this chapter until such time as the State educational agency, or in the case of such schools which participate under the provisions of section 1759 of this title the Secretary certifies that sufficient funds from sources other than children's payments are available to enable such schools to meet these requirements.

(d) Social Security numbers and other documentation required as condition of eligibility

(1) The Secretary shall require as a condition of eligibility for receipt of free or reduced price lunches that the member of the household who executes the application furnish the social security account number of the parent or guardian who is the primary wage earner responsible for the care of the child for whom the application is made, or that of another appropriate adult member of the child's household, as determined by the Secretary. The Secretary shall require that social security account numbers of all adult members of the household be provided if verification of the data contained in the application is sought under subsection (b)(2)(C) of this section.

(2) No member of a household may be provided a free or reduced price lunch under this chapter unless—

(A) appropriate documentation relating to the income of such household (as prescribed by the Secretary) has been provided to the appropriate local school food authority so that such authority may calculate the total income of such household;

(B) documentation showing that the household is participating in the food stamp program under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 [7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.] has been provided to the appropriate local school food authority; or

(C) documentation has been provided to the appropriate local school food authority showing that the family is receiving assistance under the program for aid to families with dependent children under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.].

(e) Limitation on meal contracting

A school or school food authority participating in a program under this chapter may not contract with a food service company to provide a la carte food service unless the company agrees to offer free, reduced price, and full-price reimbursable meals to all eligible children.

(f) Nutritional information

(1) Not later than the first day of the 1996–97 school year, the Secretary, State educational agencies, schools, and school food service authorities shall, to the maximum extent practicable, inform students who participate in the school lunch and school breakfast programs, and parents and guardians of the students, of—

(A) the nutritional content of the lunches and breakfasts that are served under the programs; and

(B) the consistency of the lunches and breakfasts with the guidelines contained in the most recent “Dietary Guidelines for Americans” that is published under section 5341 of title 7 (referred to in this subsection as the “Guidelines”), including the consistency of the lunches and breakfasts with the guideline for fat content.

(2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), not later than the first day of the 1996–97 school year, schools that are participating in the school lunch or school breakfast program shall serve lunches and breakfasts under the programs that are consistent with the Guidelines (as measured in accordance with subsection (a)(1)(A)(ii) of this section and section 4(e)(1) 3 [42 U.S.C. 1773(e)(1)]).

(B) State educational agencies may grant waivers from the requirements of subparagraph (A) subject to criteria established by the appropriate State educational agency. The waivers shall not permit schools to implement the requirements later than July 1, 1998, or a later date determined by the Secretary.

(C) To assist schools in meeting the requirements of this paragraph, the Secretary—

(i) shall—

(I) develop, and provide to schools, standardized recipes, menu cycles, and food product specification and preparation techniques; and

(II) provide to schools information regarding nutrient standard menu planning, assisted nutrient standard menu planning, and food-based menu systems; and

(ii) may provide to schools information regarding other approaches, as determined by the Secretary.

(D) Schools may use any of the approaches described in subparagraph (C) to meet the requirements of this paragraph. In the case of schools that elect to use food-based menu systems to meet the requirements of this paragraph, the Secretary may not require the schools to conduct or use nutrient analysis.

(g) Justification of production records; paperwork reduction

Not later than 1 year after November 2, 1994, the Secretary shall provide a notification to Congress that justifies the need for production records required under section 210.10(b) of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, and describes how the Secretary has reduced paperwork relating to the school lunch and school breakfast programs.

(h) Use of nutrition education and training program resources

In carrying out this chapter and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), a State educational agency may use resources provided through the nutrition education and training program authorized under section 19 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1788) for training aimed at improving the quality and acceptance of school meals.

(June 4, 1946, ch. 281, §9, 60 Stat. 233; May 8, 1968, Pub. L. 90–302, §2(b), 82 Stat. 117; May 14, 1970, Pub. L. 91–248, §6(a), (b), (d), (e), 84 Stat. 210; Nov. 5, 1971, Pub. L. 92–153, §5, 85 Stat. 420; Sept. 26, 1972, Pub. L. 92–433, §5, 86 Stat. 726; Nov. 7, 1973, Pub. L. 93–150, §9, 87 Stat. 564; June 30, 1974, Pub. L. 93–326, §4, 88 Stat. 286; Oct. 7, 1975, Pub. L. 94–105, §6, 89 Stat. 512; Nov. 10, 1977, Pub. L. 95–166, §8, 91 Stat. 1335; Nov. 10, 1978, Pub. L. 95–627, §8, 92 Stat. 3622; Aug. 13, 1981, Pub. L. 97–35, title VIII, §§803(a), (b), 811, 95 Stat. 524, 525, 529; Oct. 18, 1986, Pub. L. 99–500, title III, §§322–324, 100 Stat. 1783–361, and Oct. 30, 1986, Pub. L. 99–591, title III, §§322–324, 100 Stat. 3341–364; Nov. 14, 1986, Pub. L. 99–661, div. D, title II, §§4202–4204, 100 Stat. 4072; June 28, 1988, Pub. L. 100–356, §1, 102 Stat. 669; Nov. 10, 1989, Pub. L. 101–147, title I, §101, title II, §202(a)(1), (2)(A), (b), title III, §§305, 312(1), (2), 103 Stat. 878, 908, 914, 916; Nov. 2, 1994, Pub. L. 103–448, title I, §§105(a), 106–109(a), 110, 108 Stat. 4701–4705.)

References in Text

The Food Stamp Act of 1977, referred to in subsecs. (b)(2)(C)(ii)(I), (6)(A)(i) and (d)(2)(B), is Pub. L. 88–525, Aug. 31, 1964, 78 Stat. 703, as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 51 (§2011 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2011 of Title 7 and Tables.

The Social Security Act, referred to in subsecs. (b)(2)(C)(ii)(II), (iii)(II)(bb), (6)(A)(ii) and (d)(2)(C), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620, as amended. Part A of title IV and title XIX of the Act are classified generally to part A (§601 et seq.) of subchapter IV and subchapter XIX (§1396 et seq.), respectively, of chapter 7 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of this title and Tables.

The Child Nutrition Act of 1966, referred to in subsecs. (b)(2)(C)(iii)(I), (6)(A) and (h), is Pub. L. 89–642, Oct. 11, 1966, 80 Stat. 885, as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 13A (§1771 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1771 of this title and Tables.

The Head Start Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(6)(A)(iii), is subchapter B (§§635–657) of chapter 8 of subtitle A of title VI of Pub. L. 97–35, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 499, as amended, which is classified generally to subchapter II (§9831 et seq.) of chapter 105 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 9801 of this title and Tables.

Section 1760(d)(6) of this title, referred to in subsec. (c), was redesignated section 1760(d)(5) of this title by Pub. L. 97–35, title VIII, §819(c)(1)(B), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 533.

Codification

Pub. L. 99–591 is a corrected version of Pub. L. 99–500.

Amendments

1994—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 103–448, §§105(a), 106(a), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A) and cl. (i) of subpar. (A) and added cl. (ii) of subpar. (A) and subpar. (B).

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 103–448, §107, amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “Lunches served by schools participating in the school lunch program under this chapter shall offer students fluid whole milk and fluid unflavored lowfat milk.”

Subsec. (b)(2)(C)(iii) to (v). Pub. L. 103–448, §108, added cls. (iii) to (v) and struck out former cl. (iii), which read as follows: “School food service authorities shall only use information obtained under clause (ii) for the purpose of determining eligibility for participation in programs under this chapter and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966.”

Subsec. (b)(6)(A). Pub. L. 103–448, §109(a)(1), struck out “a member of” after “if the child is” in introductory provisions, inserted “a member of” after “(i)” and “(ii)”, and added cl. (iii).

Subsec. (b)(6)(B). Pub. L. 103–448, §109(a)(2), inserted “, or of enrollment or participation in a Head Start program on the basis described in subparagraph (A)(iii),” after “aid to families with dependent children”.

Subsecs. (f) to (h). Pub. L. 103–448, §§106(b), (c), 110, added subsecs. (f) to (h).

1989—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–147, §101(a), amended subsec. (a), as amended identically by Pub. L. 99–500 and 99–591, §322, and Pub. L. 99–661, §4202, to read as if only the amendment by Pub. L. 99–661 was enacted, resulting in no change in text, see 1986 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 101–147, §312(1), substituted “school lunch” for “school-lunch”.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 101–147, §101(b), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “In addition to such other forms of milk as the Secretary may determine, the lunches shall offer whole milk as a beverage.”

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–147, §§305(b)(1), 312(2), substituted “reduced price” for “reduced-price” and “family size” for “family-size” wherever appearing.

Pub. L. 101–147, §202(a)(1), (2)(A), amended subsec. (b), as amended identically by Pub. L. 99–500 and Pub. L. 99–591, §323, and Pub. L. 99–661, §4203, and as amended by Pub. L. 100–356, §1, to read as if only the amendment by Pub. L. 99–661 was enacted, and further amended subsec. (b) identically to the amendments that were made by Pub. L. 100–356, §1, resulting in no change in text, see 1986 and 1988 Amendment notes below.

Subsec. (b)(2)(C). Pub. L. 101–147, §202(b)(1), amended subpar. (C) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (C) read as follows: “Eligibility determinations shall be made on the basis of a complete application executed by an adult member of the household. The Secretary, States, and local school food authorities may seek verification of the data contained in the application. Local school food authorities shall undertake such verification of the information contained in these applications as the Secretary may by regulation prescribe and, in accordance with such regulations, make appropriate changes in the eligibility determinations on the basis of such verification.”

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–147, §§305(b)(2), 312(1), substituted “School lunch” for “School-lunch”, substituted “school lunch” for “school-lunch” wherever appearing, and made technical amendments to the references to sections 612c, 1431, and 1446a–1 of title 7 involving underlying provisions of original act and requiring no change in text.

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 101–147, §§202(b)(2)(A), 312(2), substituted “reduced price” for “reduced-price” and “number of the parent or guardian who is the primary wage earner responsible for the care of the child for whom the application is made, or that of another appropriate adult member of the child's household, as determined by the Secretary. The Secretary shall require that social security account numbers of all adult members of the household be provided if verification of the data contained in the application is sought under subsection (b)(2)(C) of this section.” for “numbers of all adult members of the household of which such person is a member.”

Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 101–147, §312(2), substituted “reduced price” for “reduced-price”.

Subsec. (d)(2)(A). Pub. L. 101–147, §202(b)(2)(B)(i), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: “appropriate documentation, as prescribed by the Secretary, of the income of such household has been provided to the appropriate local school food authority; or”.

Subsec. (d)(2)(C). Pub. L. 101–147, §202(b)(2)(B)(ii), (iii), added subpar. (C).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 101–147, §312(2), substituted “reduced price” for “reduced-price”.

Pub. L. 101–147, §305(a), amended subsec. (e), as amended identically by Pub. L. 99–500 and Pub. L. 99–591, §324, and Pub. L. 99–661, §4204, to read as if only the amendment by Pub. L. 99–661 was enacted, resulting in no change in text, see 1986 Amendment note below.

1988—Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 100–356 substituted “The” for “For the school years ending June 30, 1982, and June 30, 1983, the” in second sentence and struck out provisions which equated income guidelines for determining eligibility for free lunches with gross income eligibility standards for participation in food stamp program.

1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–500 and Pub. L. 99–591, §322, and Pub. L. 99–661, §4202, amended subsec. (a) identically, designating existing provisions as pars. (1), (3), and (4) and adding par. (2).

Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 99–500 and Pub. L. 99–591, §323, and Pub. L. 99–661, §4203, amended subsec. (b) identically, adding par. (6).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 99–500 and Pub. L. 99–591, §324, and Pub. L. 99–661, §4204, amended section identically, adding subsec. (e).

1981—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–35, §811, struck out “in any junior high school or middle school” after “grade level”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–35, §803(a), in par. (1) substituted provisions relating to income eligibility guidelines, for provisions relating to income poverty guidelines, redesignated former par. (2) as (5) and, as so redesignated, struck out “solely” after “sentence”, and added pars. (2) to (4).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 97–35, §803(b), added subsec. (d).

1978—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 95–627 substituted guidelines prescribed by the Office of Management and Budget for the Consumer Price Index for purposes of determining the income poverty guidelines.

1977—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–166 inserted parenthetical text authorizing students in any grade level in any junior high school or middle school, when approved by local school district or nonprofit private school, to refuse to accept offered foods they do not intend to consume.

1975—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–105, §6(a), directed Secretary to establish administrative procedures designed to diminish food waste in school lunch programs and made provision for senior high school students to refuse food which they do not intend to consume without affecting lunch charges or payments to schools for lunches served.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 94–105, §6(b), designated existing provisions as subsec. (b)(1), struck out “if a school elects to serve reduced-price lunches” after “reduced price not to exceed 20 cents”, inserted provision for a reduced price lunch for any child eligible under reduced price lunch income guidelines, established income guidelines for reduced price lunches, beginning with fiscal year ending June 30, 1976, at 95 per centum above applicable family size income levels in income poverty guidelines, and provided for a reduced price lunch not to exceed 20 cents to any child belonging to a household whose income falls between guidelines for a free lunch and 95 per centum above income levels in the income poverty guidelines.

Pub. L. 94–105, §6(c), substituted provision adjusting income poverty guidelines that take effect July 1 of each year according to percentage change in Consumer Price Index for 12-month period ending in April of that year, except that the first adjustment, effective July 1, 1976, shall be made according to percentage change between average Consumer Price Index for 1974, on which the 1975–1976 guidelines are based, and Consumer Price Index for April 1976 for provision basing the guidelines on average Consumer Price Index for previous calendar year.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 94–105, §6(d), added par. (2).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–105, §6(e), substituted “schools (as defined in section 1760(d)(6) of this title which are private and nonprofit as defined in the last sentence of section 1760(d)(6) of this title)” for “nonprofit private schools”.

1974—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 93–326 substituted “beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 1974” for “for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1974” in provision authorizing State educational agencies to establish income guidelines for reduced price lunches at not more than 75 per centum above applicable family size income levels in income poverty guidelines as prescribed by Secretary.

1973—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 93–150 inserted proviso relating to income guidelines for reduced price lunches.

1972—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 92–433, §5(a), designated first sentence as subsec. (a).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 92–433, §5(b), designated second through seventh sentences of existing provisions as subsec. (b), separated provisions relating to free and reduced price lunches, substituted May 15 of each year for July 1 of each year as the date by which the Secretary is required to prescribe an income poverty guideline, prescribed free lunch for children of households below the guideline instead of prior provision requiring free lunch or lunch at reduced price, authorized State educational agencies to set up family-size income levels for free and reduced price lunches to be within certain percentage limitations of the guideline prescribed by the Secretary, and provided for continuation until July 1, 1973 of higher guidelines established prior to July 1, 1972.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 92–433, §5(c), designated eighth through thirteenth sentences as subsec. (c) and in last sentence inserted provision that requirements of this section are not applicable to nonprofit private schools which participate in the school lunch program under this chapter until the State educational agency certifies about the funds.

1971—Pub. L. 92–153 inserted provisions for consideration of income poverty guidelines during fiscal year 1972 as a national minimum standard of eligibility and for reimbursement of State agencies during such fiscal year pursuant to eligibility standards established by State agencies prior to Oct. 1, 1971.

1970—Pub. L. 91–248 placed a ceiling of 20 cents on any reduced price meal offered under the school lunch program, provided for determination of ability to pay the full cost of lunch based on a publicly announced policy the minimum criteria of which includes family income and the number of school children in the family unit as well as the size of the family unit in general, but, under which, by Jan. 1, 1971, such determination shall be based on the income poverty guidelines with first priority given to providing free meals to the neediest children, provided that there be no overt identification of those children who receive free and reduced price meals, authorized the Secretary to prescribe such terms and conditions for food service in the non-national School Lunch Act schools as well as schools under this Act which are receiving Federal assistance in the form of commodities, and excepted from requirements of this section with respect to amount for reduced cost meals and eligibility for meals without cost nonprofit private schools which participate in the school lunch program under the provisions of section 1759 of this title until the Secretary certifies that sufficient funds are available to enable such schools to meet the requirements of this section.

1968—Pub. L. 90–302 provided that minimum nutritional requirements prescribed by the Secretary on basis of tested nutritional research which lunches served by participating schools must meet could not be construed to prohibit substitution of foods to accommodate medical or other special dietary needs of individual students.

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Amendment by sections 105(a) and 106 to 108 of Pub. L. 103–448 effective Oct. 1, 1994, see section 401 of Pub. L. 103–448, set out as a note under section 1755 of this title.

Section 109(c) of Pub. L. 103–448 provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 1766 of this title] shall become effective on September 25, 1995.”

Effective Date of 1989 Amendment

Section 202(a)(2)(B) of Pub. L. 101–147 provided that: “The amendments made by subparagraph (A) [amending this section] shall take effect as if such amendments had been effective on June 28, 1988.”

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Sections 322 to 324 of Pub. L. 99–500 and Pub. L. 99–591 and sections 4202 to 4204 of Pub. L. 99–661 provided that the amendments made by those sections are effective July 1, 1986.

Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Amendment by sections 803(a), (b) and 811 of Pub. L. 97–35 effective Aug. 13, 1981, and Sept. 1, 1981, respectively, see section 820(a)(1)(E), (7)(A) of Pub. L. 97–35, set out as a note under section 1753 of this title.

Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 95–627 effective July 1, 1979, except as specifically provided, see section 14 of Pub. L. 95–627, set out as a note under section 1755 of this title.

Effective Date of 1975 Amendment

Section 6(c) of Pub. L. 94–105 provided that the amendment made by that section is effective Jan. 1, 1976.

Promulgation of Regulations

Section 202(c) of Pub. L. 101–147 provided that: “Not later than July 1, 1990, the Secretary of Agriculture shall issue final regulations to implement the amendments made by subsection (b) [amending this section].”

Income Eligibility Guidelines

Pub. L. 96–499, title II, §203(a)–(c), Dec. 5, 1980, 94 Stat. 2600, as amended by Pub. L. 97–35, title VIII, §820(b)(3), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 535, provided that:

“(a), (b) [Repealed].

“(c) For the school year ending June 30, 1981, the Secretary may prescribe procedures for implementing the revisions in the income poverty guidelines for free and reduced price lunches contained in this section that may allow school food authorities to (1) use applications distributed at the beginning of the school year when making eligibility determinations based on the revised income poverty guidelines or (2) distribute new applications containing the revised income poverty guidelines and make eligibility determinations using the new applications.”

Verification of Eligibility Data Submitted on a Sample of Applications for Free and Reduced-Price Meals

Section 803(c) of Pub. L. 97–35 provided that: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct a pilot study to verify the data submitted on a sample of applications for free and reduced-price meals. In conducting the pilot study, the Secretary may require households included in the study to furnish social security numbers of all household members and such other information as the Secretary may require, including, but not limited to, pay stubs, documentation of the current status of household members who are recipients of public assistance, unemployment insurance documents, and written statements from employers, as a condition for receipt of free or reduced-price meals.”

Procedures for Implementing New Income Eligibility Guidelines for Free and Reduced-Price Lunches

Section 803(d) of Pub. L. 97–35 provided that: “For the school year ending June 30, 1982, the Secretary may prescribe procedures for implementing the revisions made by the amendments contained in this section [amending this section] to the income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced-price lunches under section 9 of the National School Lunch Act [this section]. Such procedures may allow school food authorities to (1) use applications distributed at the beginning of the school year when making eligibility determinations based on the revised income eligibility guidelines, or (2) distribute new applications and make determinations using such applications.”

Lowering Minimum Standard of Eligibility and Reduction in Number of Children Served, Fiscal Year 1972

Section 6 of Pub. L. 92–153 provided that: “The Secretary shall not lower minimum standards of eligibility for free and reduced price meals nor require a reduction in the number of children served in any school district during a fiscal year to be effective for that fiscal year. This section shall apply to fiscal year 1972.”

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 1753, 1759a, 1760, 1762a, 1766, 1769, 1773, 1786 of this title.

1 So in original. Probably should be “be”.

2 See References in Text note below.

3 So in original. Probably should be followed by “of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966”.