School Lunch Software

Lawmakers in the Minnesota House unanimously passed legislation Thursday that would guarantee a hot school lunch to any student who wanted one but could not afford it.

After a short debate and one amendment, lawmakers voted 130-0 to approve the bill that would authorize $3.5 million next year to ensure that no student who qualifies for the 40-cent, reduced-priced meals would be turned away.

A February report from Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid found that 15 percent of the state’s school districts will refuse meals to students who cannot pay. About half of districts will give students a less nutritious meal if they cannot afford the reduced price of a hot lunch.

“A child who has not eaten lunch or who has eaten a lunch that is less nutritious is less likely to do well at school,” said state Rep. Yvonne Selcer, DFL-Minnetonka, lead sponsor of the legislation.

“We have a chance to do something about this today. … No child shall go hungry in a Minnesota school because of their inability to pay.”

Selcer estimated the bill will help 61,500 students.

Gov. Mark Dayton has included funding for the bill in his proposed supplemental budget.

Federal money funds free lunches for students whose families meet the economic guidelines, and other students in poverty pay 40 cents for reduced-price meals. Selcer’s bill uses state funds to make up the gap between free and reduced-price lunches.

State Rep. Duane Quam, R-Byron, argued that the measure was flawed because it could miss students whose families suddenly face economic hardship and might not qualify for federally subsidized school meals. He proposed and then withdrew an amendment that would have given school districts flexibility on how they use the additional money.

Lawmakers did approve an amendment from State Rep. Sarah Anderson, R-Plymouth, that stops school staff from actions such as stamping a child’s hand or pinning a note to their clothing if they owe money for meals.

They rejected with a split 65-65 vote an amendment from State Rep. Joe McDonald, R-Delano, to use money slated for a school climate center to prevent bullying to increase school lunch funding this year.

The approved bill provides new money starting in 2015.

“This is a million dollars sitting in a vault in St. Paul that could be used for school lunches,” said Rep. Kelby Woodard, R-Belle Plaine, of funds approved last session that are tied to a bullying prevention bill still making its way through the committees.

The school lunch measure now goes to the state Senate, where similar legislation has been referred to the Education Policy Committee.

Christopher Magan can be reached at 651-228-5557. Follow him at twitter.com/chris_magan.