Substantively identical to S 708, filed 4/6/23.

Amends GS 115C-263 to require public school units to have a school food authority to provide school nutrition services in the schools under their jurisdiction by offering students two meals per day, breakfast and lunch (was, local boards of education must provide to the extent practicable school nutrition services in the schools under their jurisdiction). Requires the State Board of Education, to the extent funds are available for this purpose, to allocate funds to school food authorities at public school units to provide students with free healthy nutrition services. Requires, in issuing the allocation, that the amount be determined based on an evaluation of the authority’s nutrition services (sets out minimum requirements for the method and criteria used for the evaluation), that funds be distributed on a fair and equitable basis, and the allocation be issued at the beginning of the fiscal year, with the Board allowed to reserve for future allocation an amount not to exceed 10%. Specifies that funds allocated under this statute supplement and do not supplant funds from other sources for the same purpose.

Amends GS 115C-218.75 by requiring charter schools, GS 115C-238.72 by requiring regional schools, GS 115C-150.14 by requiring schools for students with visual and hearing impairments, and GS 116-239.8 requiring laboratory schools, to provide school nutrition services according to GS 115C-263 and GS 115C-264 (setting out requirements for school nutrition programs, including that they participate in the National School Lunch Program). Makes conforming changes.

Appropriates $148.8 million in recurring funds for 2023-24 from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction to provide nutrition services to students in public school units at no cost to the students. Allows the use of funds appropriated to State Aid for Public Schools for this purpose if this funding is insufficient for 2023-24.

Authorizes the State Board of Education to adopt temporary rules to enact the act until such a time as permanent rules can be adopted.

Effective July 1, 2023.