News Update

Bill to give electronic cards for student meals fails in Legislature

Legislation that would have supplied electronic benefit cards to low-income children to get meals when school is not in session died last week in the Assembly Appropriations Committee, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Senate Bill 364 was authored by Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, and modeled after a federal program created during the Covid-19 pandemic in which cash was loaded onto EBT cards for families to purchase food while school was closed.

Many districts have handed out free meals during the summer months, but some families aren’t able to pick up those meals due to work obligations or a lack of transportation, the Times noted.

Skinner declined to comment to the Times.

During the school year, meals have been free to California students throughout the pandemic and extra funding this year is enabling districts to offer healthier options to students.