SECTION 1. Chapter 69 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 1C the following section:-

The board shall develop guidelines for the voluntary implementation by school districts of programs that encourage and facilitate the ability of school districts to donate excess, unconsumed, and edible food and beverages from meals served at such educational facilities to local food assistance programs including, but not limited to, community food pantries, soup kitchens, and other community and not-for-profit organizations that distribute food to the poor and disadvantaged. Such guidelines may include but are not limited to a methodology to provide information to educational institutions and local voluntary food assistance programs of the provisions of such guidelines, notification to educational institutions of their ability to elect to donate excess, unconsumed, and edible food and beverages to local voluntary food programs, and the provision of information and technical assistance on the manner of how to best donate excess food in a safe and sanitary manner.