_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT prohibiting a school district from stigmatizing a student who cannot pay for a school meal or has a negative school meal account balance; requiring any communications from the school district regarding a school meal account balance to be directed to the student's parent or guardian only; and PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Lack of payment for school meals -- stigmatization prohibited. (1) With regard to a student who cannot pay for a school meal or for a meal that was previously served to the student, a school district employee, contractor, or volunteer may not:

(a) take any action that would stigmatize the student for being unable to pay for a meal that was previously served to the student, including but not limited to requiring the student to wear a wristband, hand stamp, or other identifying marker or serving the student an alternative meal; or

(b) require the student to dispose of an already served meal because of the student's inability to pay for that meal or a previous meal.

(2) A school district shall direct any communications regarding a student's unpaid debt for previously served school meals to the student's parent or guardian only. Nothing in this subsection prohibits a school district from sending a notice addressed to the student's parent or guardian home with the student.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 20, chapter 10, part 2, and the provisions of Title 20, chapter 10, part 2, apply to [section 1].

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2021.