Pupil nutrition: school meals: halal and kosher food options.

Existing law requires each school district, county superintendent of schools, and charter school to make available a nutritionally adequate breakfast, as defined, and a nutritionally adequate lunch, as defined, free of charge during each schoolday, as defined, to any pupil who requests a meal, without consideration of the pupil's eligibility for a federally funded free or reduced-price meal, as provided. This bill, commencing with the 2025–26 school year, if 5% or more of pupils at a schoolsite of a school district, county superintendent of schools, or charter school prefer a halal or kosher food option for a nutritionally adequate breakfast and a nutritionally adequate lunch, would require the schoolsite to offer a halal or kosher food option, respectively. The bill would authorize a schoolsite to collect information from pupils to determine if this condition is met. The bill would authorize a schoolsite to offer halal and kosher food options even if this condition is not met. By imposing new duties on a schoolsite of a school district, county superintendent of schools, or charter school, the bill would constitute a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.