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Amends 42 U.S.C. 1766(d)(5) by adding a new subparagraph (F) entitled 'Serious deficiency process' that requires the Secretary to review and issue guidance and, as appropriate, regulations addressing the serious deficiency process.
Adds a new subsection (v) to Section 17 establishing an 'Advisory Committee on Paperwork Reduction' with specified establishment timeline, duties, membership requirements, considerations, guidance/regulation issuance timeline, and reporting requirements to Congress.
Revises subsection (f)(2) of 42 U.S.C. 1766 to (1) replace the Disbursements paragraph to make disbursements subject to the revised limitation, (2) set specific limits on the number and type of reimbursable meals and supplements per child per day (including alternate limits when child care involves 8 or more hours between the first and fourth meal service periods), and (3) add a new requirement that the Secretary conduct a study on the prevalence and impacts of a third reimbursable meal, submit a report to specified Congressional committees, and provide guidance to program operators based on the study's findings.
Makes targeted changes to the child nutrition statutes to tighten program integrity, limit meal reimbursements, require reviews and studies, update an inflation index reference, and create an advisory body to reduce paperwork. Key actions include annual eligibility checks for certain institutions, a mandated review of the “serious deficiency” enforcement process with guidance or regulations within one year, limits on reimbursable meals/supplements and a two‑year study/report on a possible third meal, switching a cost index to the “Consumer Price Index for food away from home,” and establishing an Advisory Committee on Paperwork Reduction to recommend and guide reduced administrative burden while maintaining accountability.
In the matter preceding subparagraph (A), replace the text "criteria:" with "criteria—" (a punctuation change in the introductory text of Section 17(a)(6)).
In subparagraph (E) of Section 17(a)(6), strike the word "and" at the end of the subparagraph.
In subparagraph (F) of Section 17(a)(6), strike the period at the end and insert "; and" (adjusting punctuation to continue the list of subparagraphs).
Add new subparagraph (G) to Section 17(a)(6): for an institution described in paragraph (2)(B), the eligibility of such institution shall be determined on an annual basis in accordance with this section.
Adds a new subparagraph (F) titled “Serious deficiency process” to Section 17(d)(5) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.
Who is affected and how:
Child care providers and program operators: Direct operational effects. Reimbursement ceilings change what combinations of meals and supplements providers may claim per child per day, which may reduce or change revenues for some operators and require adjustments to meal scheduling and documentation. Providers will also be subject to annual eligibility determinations if they fall under the specified statutory category, and they will need to follow any new guidance on serious‑deficiency determinations and paperwork reductions.
Children and families served by child nutrition programs: Potential indirect effects on access to meals if providers alter offerings due to reimbursement caps; the two‑year study may influence whether a third reimbursable meal is recommended, expanded, or withheld based on empirical findings about need and cost.
State and local administering agencies: Must implement and enforce annual eligibility checks, changes to reimbursement rules, and new guidance from USDA. They may need to update monitoring and administrative processes, adopt electronic record practices, and adjust enforcement actions consistent with revised guidance on serious deficiencies.
USDA / Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and federal program administrators: Responsible for conducting the mandated reviews and study, publishing findings, issuing guidance/regulations, standing up the Advisory Committee, and tracking implementation. This will require staff time and coordination but no explicit new appropriation in the text.
Oversight and compliance functions: Guidance/regulation changes and a prohibition on treating State‑specific requirements as noncompliance will change how serious deficiencies are identified and remediated; appeals processes and enforcement timelines may be revised.
Paperwork and IT vendors / recordkeeping systems: Recommendations and guidance promoting electronic records and streamlined monitoring may spur demand for upgraded digital recordkeeping and reporting tools among program operators and administering agencies.
Net effect: Mostly procedural and administrative reforms intended to tighten program integrity, standardize enforcement, reduce paperwork burden, and collect evidence before expanding benefits; impacts are concentrated on program operators, administering agencies, and USDA/FNS implementation workloads rather than creating large new direct expenditures or new entitlement expansions.
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Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Introduced April 10, 2025 by Suzanne Bonamici · Last progress April 10, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Introduced in House