1994 US Code
Title 42 - THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
CHAPTER 13 - SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAMS
Sec. 1759a - Special assistance funds

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§1759a. Special assistance funds (a) Formula for computation of payments; computation for lunches to eligible children in schools funding service to ineligible children from non-Federal sources; special assistance factors; annual adjustments

(1)(A) Except as provided in section 1759 of this title, in each fiscal year each State educational agency shall receive special assistance payments in an amount equal to the sum of the product obtained by multiplying the number of lunches (consisting of a combination of foods which meet the minimum nutritional requirements prescribed by the Secretary pursuant to section 1758(a) of this title) served free to children eligible for such lunches in schools within that State during such fiscal year by the special assistance factor for free lunches prescribed by the Secretary for such fiscal year and the product obtained by multiplying the number of lunches served at a reduced price to children eligible for such reduced price lunches in schools within that State during such fiscal year by the special assistance factor for reduced price lunches prescribed by the Secretary for such fiscal year.

(B) Except as provided in subparagraph (C), (D), or (E), in the case of any school which determines that at least 80 percent of the children in attendance during a school year (hereinafter in this sentence referred to as the “first school year”) are eligible for free lunches or reduced price lunches, special assistance payments shall be paid to the State educational agency with respect to that school, if that school so requests for the school year following the first school year, on the basis of the number of free lunches or reduced price lunches, as the case may be, that are served by that school during the school year for which the request is made, to those children who were determined to be so eligible in the first school year and the number of free lunches and reduced price lunches served during that year to other children determined for that year to be eligible for such lunches.

(C)(i) Except as provided in subparagraph (D), in the case of any school that—

(I) elects to serve all children in the school free lunches under the school lunch program during any period of 3 successive school years, or in the case of a school that serves both lunches and breakfasts, elects to serve all children in the school free lunches and free breakfasts under the school lunch program and the school breakfast program established under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) during any period of 3 successive school years; and

(II) pays, from sources other than Federal funds, for the costs of serving the lunches or breakfasts that are in excess of the value of assistance received under this chapter and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) with respect to the number of lunches or breakfasts served during the period;

special assistance payments shall be paid to the State educational agency with respect to the school during the period on the basis of the number of lunches or breakfasts determined under clause (ii) or (iii).

(ii) For purposes of making special assistance payments under clause (i), except as provided in clause (iii), the number of lunches or breakfasts served by a school to children who are eligible for free lunches or breakfasts or reduced price lunches or breakfasts during each school year of the 3-school-year period shall be considered to be equal to the number of lunches or breakfasts served by the school to children eligible for free lunches or breakfasts or reduced price lunches or breakfasts during the first school year of the period.

(iii) For purposes of computing the amount of the payments, a school may elect to determine on a more frequent basis the number of children who are eligible for free or reduced price lunches or breakfasts who are served lunches or breakfasts during the 3-school-year period.

(D)(i) In the case of any school that, on November 2, 1994, is receiving special assistance payments under this paragraph for a 3-school-year period described in subparagraph (C), the State may grant, at the end of the 3-school-year period, an extension of the period for an additional 2 school years, if the State determines, through available socioeconomic data approved by the Secretary, that the income level of the population of the school has remained stable.

(ii) A school described in clause (i) may reapply to the State at the end of the 2-school-year period described in clause (i) for the purpose of continuing to receive special assistance payments, as determined in accordance with this paragraph, for a subsequent 5-school-year period. The school may reapply to the State at the end of the 5-school-year period, and at the end of each 5-school-year period thereafter for which the school receives special assistance payments under this paragraph, for the purpose of continuing to receive the payments for a subsequent 5-school-year period.

(iii) If the Secretary determines after considering the best available socioeconomic data that the income level of families of children enrolled in a school has not remained stable, the Secretary may require the submission of applications for free and reduced price lunches, or for free and reduced price lunches and breakfasts, in the first school year of any 5-school-year period for which the school receives special assistance payments under this paragraph, for the purpose of calculating the special assistance payments.

(iv) For the purpose of updating information and reimbursement levels, a school described in clause (i) that carries out a school lunch or school breakfast program may at any time require submission of applications for free and reduced price lunches or for free and reduced price lunches and breakfasts.

(E)(i) In the case of any school that—

(I) elects to serve all children in the school free lunches under the school lunch program during any period of 4 successive school years, or in the case of a school that serves both lunches and breakfasts, elects to serve all children in the school free lunches and free breakfasts under the school lunch program and the school breakfast program during any period of 4 successive school years; and

(II) pays, from sources other than Federal funds, for the costs of serving the lunches or breakfasts that are in excess of the value of assistance received under this chapter and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) with respect to the number of lunches or breakfasts served during the period;

total Federal cash reimbursements and total commodity assistance shall be provided to the State educational agency with respect to the school at a level that is equal to the total Federal cash reimbursements and total commodity assistance received by the school in the last school year for which the school accepted applications under the school lunch or school breakfast program, adjusted annually for inflation in accordance with paragraph (3)(B) and for changes in enrollment, to carry out the school lunch or school breakfast program.

(ii) A school described in clause (i) may reapply to the State at the end of the 4-school-year period described in clause (i), and at the end of each 4-school-year period thereafter for which the school receives reimbursements and assistance under this subparagraph, for the purpose of continuing to receive the reimbursements and assistance for a subsequent 4-school-year period. The State may approve an application under this clause if the State determines, through available socioeconomic data approved by the Secretary, that the income level of the population of the school has remained consistent with the income level of the population of the school in the last school year for which the school accepted the applications described in clause (i).

(iii) Not later than 1 year after November 2, 1994, the Secretary shall evaluate the effects of this subparagraph and notify the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate of the results of the evaluation.

(2) The special assistance factor prescribed by the Secretary for free lunches shall be 98.75 cents and the special assistance factor for reduced price lunches shall be 40 cents less than the special assistance factor for free lunches.

(3)(A) The Secretary shall prescribe on July 1, 1982, and on each subsequent July 1, an annual adjustment in the following:

(i) The national average payment rates for lunches (as established under section 1753 of this title).

(ii) The special assistance factor for lunches (as established under paragraph (2) of this subsection).

(iii) The national average payment rates for breakfasts (as established under section 4(b) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 [42 U.S.C. 1773 (b)]).

(iv) The national average payment rates for supplements (as established under section 1766(c) of this title).

(B) The annual adjustment under this paragraph shall reflect changes in the cost of operating meal programs under this chapter and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 [42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.], as indicated by the change in the series for food away from home of the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor. Each annual adjustment shall reflect the changes in the series for food away from home for the most recent 12-month period for which such data are available. The adjustments made under this paragraph shall be computed to the nearest one-fourth cent.

(b) Financing cost of free and reduced price lunches on basis of need of school for special assistance; maximum per lunch amount

Except as provided in section 10 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 [42 U.S.C. 1779], the special assistance payments made to each State agency during each fiscal year under the provisions of this section shall be used by such State agency to assist schools of that State in providing free and reduced price lunches served to children pursuant to section 1758(b) of this title. The amount of such special assistance funds that a school shall from time to time receive, within a maximum per lunch amount established by the Secretary for all States, shall be based on the need of the school for such special assistance. Such maximum per lunch amount established by the Secretary shall not be less than 60 cents.

(c) Payments to States

Special assistance payments to any State under this section shall be made as provided in the last sentence of section 1756 of this title.

(d) Terms and conditions

In carrying out this section, the terms and conditions governing the operation of the school lunch program set forth in other sections of this chapter, including those applicable to funds apportioned or paid pursuant to section 1753 of this title but excluding the provisions of section 1756 of this title relating to matching, shall be applicable to the extent they are not inconsistent with the express requirements of this section.

(e) Report of school to State educational agency, contents; report of State educational agency to Secretary, contents

(1) The Secretary, when appropriate, may request each school participating in the school lunch program under this chapter to report monthly to the State educational agency the average number of children in the school who received free lunches and the average number of children who received reduced price lunches during the immediately preceding month.

(2) The State educational agency of each State shall report to the Secretary each month the average number of children in the State who received free lunches and the average number of children in the State who received reduced price lunches during the immediately preceding month.

(f) Eligibility of commodity only schools for special assistance payments; free and reduced price meals; discrimination and identification prohibited

Commodity only schools shall also be eligible for special assistance payments under this section. Such schools shall serve meals free to children who meet the eligibility requirements for free meals under section 1758(b) of this title, and shall serve meals at a reduced price, not exceeding the price specified in section 1758(b)(3) of this title, to children meeting the eligibility requirements for reduced price meals under such section. No physical segregation of, or other discrimination against, any child eligible for a free or reduced-priced 1 lunch shall be made by the school, nor shall there be any overt identification of any such child by any means.

(June 4, 1946, ch. 281, §11, as added Oct. 15, 1962, Pub. L. 87–823, §6, 76 Stat. 946; amended May 14, 1970, Pub. L. 91–248, §7, 84 Stat. 211; Nov. 5, 1971, Pub. L. 92–153, §4, 85 Stat. 420; Nov. 7, 1973, Pub. L. 93–150, §3(a), 87 Stat. 561; Oct. 7, 1975, Pub. L. 94–105, §8, 89 Stat. 514; Nov. 10, 1977, Pub. L. 95–166, §9, 91 Stat. 1336; Nov. 10, 1978, Pub. L. 95–627, §§4, 5(c), 92 Stat. 3619, 3620; Dec. 5, 1980, Pub. L. 96–499, title II, §204(a), 94 Stat. 2601; Aug. 13, 1981, Pub. L. 97–35, title VIII, §§801(b), 812, 813(b), 819(a), 95 Stat. 522, 530, 533; Nov. 10, 1989, Pub. L. 101–147, title II, §203, title III, §312(2), (3), 103 Stat. 909, 916; Nov. 2, 1994, Pub. L. 103–448, title I, §111, 108 Stat. 4706.)

References in Text

The Child Nutrition Act of 1966, referred to in subsec. (a)(1)(C)(i)(II), (E)(i)(II), (3)(B), 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 that Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1771 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

1994—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 103–448 designated first sentence as subpar. (A) and second sentence as subpar. (B), substituted “Except as provided in subparagraph (C), (D), or (E), in the case of” for “In the case of” in subpar. (B), added subpars. (C) to (E), and struck out at end “In the case of any school that (A) elects to serve all children in that school free lunches under the school lunch program during any period of three successive school years and (B) pays, from sources other than Federal funds, for the costs of serving such lunches which are in excess of the value of assistance received under this chapter with respect to the number of lunches served during that period, special assistance payments shall be paid to the State educational agency with respect to that school during that period on the basis of the number of lunches determined under the succeeding sentence. For purposes of making special assistance payments in accordance with the preceding sentence, the number of lunches served by a school to children eligible for free lunches and reduced price lunches during each school year of the three-school-year period shall be deemed to be the number of lunches served by that school to children eligible for free lunches and reduced price lunches during the first school year of such period, unless that school elects, for purposes of computing the amount of such payments, to determine on a more frequent basis the number of children eligible for free and reduced price lunches who are served lunches during such period.”

1989—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 101–147, §312(2), (3), substituted “reduced price” for “reduced-price” and “special assistance” for “special-assistance” wherever appearing in pars. (1) and (2) of subsec. (a) and first sentence of subsec. (b).

Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 101–147, §203, substituted “The Secretary, when appropriate, may request each school participating in the school lunch program under this chapter to report monthly to the State educational agency” for “Each school participating in the school lunch program under this chapter shall report each month to its State educational agency”.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 101–147, §312(2), (3), substituted “reduced price” for “reduced-price” and “special assistance” for “special-assistance”.

1981—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–35, §801(b), redesignated existing provisions as par. (1), substituted “(A)” for “(1)” and “(B)” for “(2)”, and struck out provisions relating to special assistance factors, adjustments, etc., for funds for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1973, and after, and added pars. (2) and (3).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–35, §819(a)(1), struck out “financing the cost of” before “providing free”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 97–35, §819(a)(2), struck out reference to section 1754 of this title.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 97–35, §812, struck out par. (1) which related to submission of State plan for child nutrition operations. Former pars. (2) and (3) were redesignated as (1) and (2), respectively, and in such pars. as so redesignated, struck out requirement respecting estimation of eligible children by participating State.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 97–35, §813(b), added subsec. (f).

1980—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–499 struck out provision that if in any State all schools charged students a uniform price for reduced-price lunches, and such price was less than twenty cents, the special assistance factor prescribed for reduced-price lunches in such State was to be equal to the special assistance factor for free lunches reduced by either ten cents or the price charged for reduced-price lunches in such State, whichever was greater.

1978—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–627 substituted “20 cents” for “10 cents” after “which shall be”, inserted “for All Urban Consumers” after “Consumer Price Index”, and inserted provision relating to the special assistance factor prescribed for reduced-price lunches in any State in which all schools charge students a uniform price for lunches.

1977—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–166 provided for special-assistance payments to the State educational agency where 80 percent of children in attendance during the school year are eligible for free lunches or reduced-price lunches and for determination of number of lunches served to children eligible for free lunches and reduced-price lunches where the school serves all students, eligible and noneligible, and funds for noneligible students are from other than Federal funds.

1975—Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 94–105 substituted “Each year by not later than a date specified by the Secretary” for “Not later than January 1 of each year”, and “following school year” for “following fiscal year”.

1973—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 93–150 added subsec. (a) and struck out former subsec. (a) provisions relating to appropriations authorization for fiscal year ending June 30, 1971, and succeeding fiscal years of such sums as may be necessary to provide special assistance to assure access to the school lunch program under this chapter by children of low-income families.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 93–150 added subsec. (b) and struck out former subsec. (b) provisions relating to formula for apportionment of funds and need for additional funds.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 93–150 redesignated subsec. (d) as (c), substituted “Special assistance payments to any State” for “Payment of the funds apportioned to any State”, and struck out former subsec. (c) provisions relating to basis for apportionment among States and need for additional funds.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 93–150 redesignated subsec. (g) as (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (c).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 93–150 redesignated subsec. (h) as (e) struck out former subsec. (e) provisions relating to State disbursement to schools for financing operating costs of the school lunch program and basis for determination of amount of funds. Subject matter was covered by subsecs. (a) and (b) of this section.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 93–150 struck out subsec. (f) provisions relating to withholding of funds from State educational agencies not permitted to disburse funds to nonprofit private schools and direct disbursement to nonprofit private schools, and conditions thereof.

Subsecs. (g), (h). Pub. L. 93–150 redesignated subsecs. (g) and (h) as (d) and (e), respectively.

1971—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 92–153 established a reimbursement rate as amount of funds to be disbursed to schools in a State, provided for receipt of a greater amount or reimbursement per meal if the school established financial inability to support service of meals, and prescribed maximum per meal amount and higher maximum per meal amount for especially needy schools.

1970—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 91–248 authorized for fiscal year ending June 30, 1971, and for each succeeding fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to provide assistance to assure access to school lunch program by children of low-income families.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 91–248 substituted formula for apportionment of funds among Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa based on the ratio of the number of children aged three to seventeen, inclusive, in such State as compared to the total number of such children in all such States, for a ratio based on the number of free or reduced price lunches served in the preceding fiscal year in such State as compared to the number of such lunches served in all such States in the preceding fiscal year.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 91–248 struck out provision requiring that not less than 50 percent of the remaining sums appropriated be apportioned among the States other than Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa, substituted formula for apportionment of special assistance funds among the States based on the total number of children aged three to seventeen, inclusive, in households with incomes of less than ,000 per annum, for a formula based on the number of free or reduced price lunches served in the preceding fiscal year and the assistance need rate, and provided that further apportionment be made on the same basis as the initial apportionment to any State which justifies the need for additional funds.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 91–248 substituted provision requiring that funds disbursed by the State be used to assist schools in financing all or part of the operating costs of the school lunch program, for requirement that disbursed funds be used to assist schools in the purchase of agricultural commodities and other foods, struck out provision relating to the selection of schools to receive funds, and substituted as a basis for determination of the amount of funds to go to each school the need of that school for assistance in meeting the requirements of section 1758 of this title, for such factors as economic condition of area from which school draws attendance, the percentages of free and reduced price lunches being served in such schools, the price of lunches in such schools compared with the average prevailing price of lunches served in the State under this chapter and the need of such schools for assistance as reflected by the financial position of the school's lunch programs.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 91–248 substituted “in the fiscal year beginning two years immediately prior to the fiscal year for which the funds are appropriated” for “in the preceding fiscal year”.

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 91–248 added subsec. (h).

Change of Name

Committee on Education and Labor of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Fourth Congress, Jan. 4, 1995.

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Amendment by 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.

Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Amendment by section 801 of Pub. L. 97–35 effective Sept. 1, 1981, amendment by sections 812 and 819 of Pub. L. 97–35 effective Oct. 1, 1981, and amendment by section 813 of Pub. L. 97–35 effective 90 days after Aug. 13, 1981, see section 820(a)(1)(A), (4), (5) of Pub. L. 97–35, set out as a note under section 1753 of this title.

Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

Amendment by sections 4 and 5(c) of Pub. L. 95–627 effective Jan. 1, 1979, and July 1, 1979, respectively, see section 14 of Pub. L. 95–627, set out as a note under section 1755 of this title.

Semiannual Adjustments Reflecting the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers During Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 1981

Section 204(b) of Pub. L. 96–499 related to annual and semiannual adjustments required under the former sixth sentence of subsec. (a) of this section during the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1981.

Additional Funds for Food Service Programs for Children; Apportionment to States Special Assistance; Consultation With Child Nutrition Council; Reimbursement From Supplemental Appropriation

Additional funds for food service programs for children from appropriations under section 612(c) of Title 7, Agriculture, apportionment to States, special assistance programs, consultation with National Advisory Council on Child Nutrition, and reimbursement from supplemental appropriation, see section 1 of Pub. L. 92–153, set out as a note under section 1753 of this title.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 1753, 1755, 1756, 1757, 1760, 1761, 1766, 1766a, 1769, 1773, 1776 of this title.

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