Legislation sponsored by Gonzalez-Rojas and state Sen. Michelle Hinchey, a Hudson Valley Democrat, would require the State Education Department to offset any cost for free lunches not reimbursed by the federal government, anticipated to be a recurring annual fee of $90.4 million.
Under the Healthy School Meals for All program, breakfast and lunch would be provided daily to all students regardless of their family’s income; estimates from advocates say the increased funding would get free meals to around 320,000 students who currently do not qualify for the measure.
