HUNGER-FREE CAMPUS INITIATIVE/COVID-19.

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View NCGA Bill Details2021
Senate Bill 676 (Public) Filed Wednesday, April 7, 2021
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE HUNGER-FREE CAMPUS INITIATIVE FOR UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CONSTITUENT INSTITUTIONS AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUSES TO RESPOND TO THE IMPACTS ON STUDENTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FROM THE CORONAVIRUS STATE FISCAL RECOVERY FUND FOR THE PROGRAM.
Intro. by Murdock, Crawford.

Status: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate (Senate action) (Apr 8 2021)

Bill History:

S 676

Bill Summaries:

  • Summary date: Apr 8 2021 - View Summary

    Requires the UNC Board of Governors (BOG) and the State Board of Community Colleges (State Board) to establish the Hunger-Free Campus Initiative (Initiative) at UNC constituent institutions and community colleges under the State Board's jurisdiction to address student hunger and food insecurity occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic due to closures and restrictions to access on campuses and dining halls and the increasing unemployment for students and their families. Allows funds made available in this act to be used to respond to the needs of students by establishing new programs, expanding on existing programs, and using community resources. Sets out  the following policies and strategies that may be implemented to respond to COVID-19 impacts on students and their ability to access meal resources during the pandemic: (1) designate a campus employee to ensure that students have the information they need to locate meal options; (2) provide for an on-campus food pantry or regular food distributions to campus or community locations; (3) for the 2021-22 academic year and subsequent academic years, establish a meal-sharing program allowing unused meal plan credits to be used by students in need to support an on-campus food pantry, with specified program information made available to students and interested parties; and (4) designate a campus employee as a point-of-contact to work with student volunteers for the meal-sharing program. 

    Appropriates $1.6 million from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund to the UNC BOG with $100,000 allocated to each constituent institution to implement the Initiative. Appropriates $5.8 million from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund to the Community College System Office to be allocated in the amount of $100,000 to each community college campus to implement the Initiative. 

    Requires that the BOG and State Board report by February 15, 2024, to the specified NCGA committees and division on the implementation of the Initiative and the use of the appropriated funds.