Amendment #134 to H4600

Hunger-Free Campus Initiative

Mr. Arena-DeRosa of Holliston moves to amend the bill in section 2 by inserting after item 7100-4002 the following item:

"7100-4003 For the department of higher education to support a hunger-free campus initiative in order to address food insecurity at 2- and 4-year public institutions of higher learning and minority-serving institutions as defined by the United States Department of Education; provided, that the department is authorized to award grants to campuses that maximize student enrollment in federal nutrition benefit programs, promote on-campus grocers that accept nutrition benefit program benefits, increase access to available meal cards and meal swipe options where feasible, maximize student access to on-campus or area food pantries in collaboration with regional food banks and support other campus-designed projects to address college student food insecurity that are developed through task forces that include students with lived experience in food insecurity; provided further, that the department shall issue a request for proposal through which colleges may apply, and award the program’s resources based on the demonstrated need and a proposed implementation plan submitted by each applicant; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, within 60 days of enactment of the general appropriations act, the commissioner of higher education shall submit to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on higher education and the clerks of the house of representatives and senate a report which identifies the date by which the request for proposal will be issued to eligible colleges and the deadline for responses.................................. $1,000,000"

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #134 to H4600

Hunger-Free Campus Initiative